Sunday, February 13, 2011

Time, Motion and Consciousness

In Zeno's paradox where he argues that there is no such thing as motion, I have found to be quite fascinating. The concept of motion, first of all, is hard to define, in fact, in regards to Zeno's argument, saying what is wrong can be difficult because by theory we can disprove the idea of motion. That is to say, by theories in quantum mechanics we are able to see that objects move like pictures moving in a 64 bit game—there is no motion, only changing of pixels to give the illusion of motion. However, by direct experiment it seems as though we can prove motion does exist. I find this troubling as Quantum Mechanics is quickly overtaking classical physics and in this it is evident that what we discover in quantum mechanics must be right, (or very near the truth).

However, I would like to make the argument for motion, in a sense, relating it to spacetime. Movement can be defined as an objects motion through time. Time passes; therefore, any change can be categorized as movement. We experience time or we are conscious of the passing of time, therefore we must assume that it exists. In this we can assume the premise that movement can be categorized as an objects experience through time.

This argument, although not disputing on a strictly scientific level, can be a valid argument for motions existence. Consciousness plays a vital role in this view of motion. If we adhere to the thought that reality is what we perceive and that there is nothing other than what we perceive to be real, then motion is only those instances that lead from point A to point B. Motion does not necessarily need to be fluid movement through space, but the directional change through time. Our consciousness tells us that we are experiencing a change in time by the way we see (long or short term) those changes unfold.

Therefore, through our own consciousness, as well as through our experiencing of time we can assume that there is in fact motion, or the movement of a solid state object through time. Consciousness brings time, time brings experience, and experience indicates movement or motion.

5 comments:

  1. Hee hee hee.....I can picture you saying this and I can't help laughing. Fun that you three are doing a blog. If you need more names than Nerdy Bot there is always The Three Geeks, Geek-sters, Nerds R Us, etc. I love it though!!! I can't wait to read more!!!!

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  2. How fun! You guys really rock!

    I love Zeno's paradox. I'll be honest I've heard many attempts to 'fix' it but all of them seem to leave the paradox intact and still paradoxical. I think that is why we study it for over 2500 years! But I think you are right, I think consciousness is a necessary part of what ever explanation that we will ever get. It's funny how much consciousness is bound up in the physical universe.

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  3. I guess it has to be. We are judging everything we see through our consciousness and so in a way reality is only what our own consciousness interprets or experiences.

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  4. I always liked the name "the three geek-a-teers"

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