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Lecture 6 Time, Space, Chance

Lecture 6 Time, Space, Chance. Dr. Ann T. Orlando. Outline. Hellenistic Theories of Space and Time Augustine's theory of Time Early modern developments on Space and Time A related concept is truth: timeless eternal Truth, man’s time-bound and space-bound ability to know this Truth.

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Lecture 6 Time, Space, Chance

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  1. Lecture 6Time, Space, Chance Dr. Ann T. Orlando

  2. Outline • Hellenistic Theories of Space and Time • Augustine's theory of Time • Early modern developments on Space and Time • A related concept is truth: • timeless eternal Truth, • man’s time-bound and space-bound ability to know this Truth

  3. Aristotle and Space and Time • Time is associated with the movement of bodies (sun, moon, planets) • Specifically: time is number of motion • No distinction between time and measurement of time • Space is associated with the extent of bodies • Neither space nor time without corporeal bodies • No vacuums • World is eternal

  4. Epicurean Understanding of Space and Time • Based on philosophy of Epicurus • Space and time distinct from bodies • Vacuums exist, multiple worlds exist for which time will be different • Everything made of atoms • Atoms are eternal • Atoms are random, lead to free will in humans • God(s) have nothing to do with cosmos • No immortality of soul • Starting point for Epicurus is theodicy

  5. Stoic Understanding of Space and Time • Based on philosophy of Zeno • Providence is in (is) space and time • Through Providence all things are fated • Where does this leave free will? • Very influential in early Christianity (Justin Martyr) • Acts 17: In Him we live and move and have our being

  6. Augustine and Time • If Genesis was a preoccupation, time as described in Genesis was a special focus • In the beginning… • Key questions • Relation between time, infinite time, eternity • Relation between time and movement • Relation between space and time • Along with theodicy and theory of signs, probably the most frequent use of Augustine in modern philosophy

  7. Confessions XI • A philosophical exegesis of Gen. 1:1 • Think back to mystical vision in IX; no time • Or at least we cannot talk about time • What is time • How we perceive it (psychological time) • What is actually is • Difference between physical time and how it is measured • Problem for Augustine: if time is not movement of corporeal bodies, then can there be time separate from corporeal bodies? • Time created at the ‘same time’ as the cosmos • The relation between time and eternity • Really the relation between God and his creation • How can time-bound man know anything of the eternal God

  8. Introduction to City of God • Written (413-427) in response to pagan critics who claimed that Rome was sacked in 410 because of Christianity • A charge revised by Edward Gibbon in Decline and Fall of Roman Empire • Explores man’s identity in temporal order and eternal order, and relationship between them • Books I –X refute pagan teaching • Books I-V Concerning those who worship gods for happiness in this life • Books VI – X Concerning those who worship gods for happiness in next life • Books XI – XXII are a defense of Christianity • Books XI – XIV Origin of the two cities (City of God and Earthly City) • Books XV – XIX Development of the two cities • Books XX – XXII Ends of the two cities • Probably the single most important social, political, philosophical, theological work by Augustine,

  9. City of God XI.4-6Eternity of the World • Begins the explicit defense of Christian teaching • First Augustine must defend Christian accounts of creation • This starts with whether or not cosmos was created • Although many of the same themes are treated note difference in approach from Confessions XI

  10. Boethius (480-526) • Heir to ancient Roman senatorial family • But living in Rome after the takeover by Germanic tribes • Among the best educated men in West • Translated Plato and Aristotle into Latin • Christian philosopher • On Trinity

  11. Consolation of Philosophy • One of the most important philosophical works ever written • Written while Boethius is in prison awaiting execution for treason • A dialog with Lady Philosophy who convinces Boethius that even in these dire circumstances he should be satisfied with his life • Petrarch Secretum Augustine plays role of Lady Philosophy • 5 Books

  12. Book 5 • Is there chance in the universe • Does God keep things in order? • What is relation of free will and Providence? • Definition of eternity • Note dependence on Augustine’s definition • But extension of Augustine through connection to free will

  13. AquinasOn the Eternity of the World • Aristotle argued forcefully for the eternity of the cosmos • Aquinas argued that Aristotle’s logic was not flawed; that the eternity of the world could be neither proved nor disproved • Note use of City of God XI • Did Augustine really leave open that the eternity of the world could not be disproved? • http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-eternity.html

  14. Early Modern (17th C) Discoveries • Early experiments show • Existence of vacuums • Random motion of gases • Along with discoveries of planetary motion • Complete rejection of Aristotelian physics

  15. Isaac Newton (1643-1727) Space and Time • 16th and 17th Discoveries in astronomy and physics led to Scientific Revolution • Newton as the high priest • A new approach which solved some old problems (but created new ones) in the Scholium to the Principia Mathematica (1687) • Space and time are independent of matter • Note how relation of God to creation is important • Newton became an Arian as an adult: no human-divine mediator between time-bound man and eternity • Corporeal things exist in space and time (which have always existed) • God created things in space and time • There exists an ‘absolute’ space and time; God exists in this absolute space and time

  16. Recent Discussions on Cosmology • Einstein and relativity theory • space/time not absolute (Special Theory of Relativity) • and not independent of matter; light effected by gravity (General Theory) • Steven Hawking, A Brief History of Time • Augustine as reference for time at beginning of creation • Back to relation between chance (quantum physics) and ordered structure to universe (gravity) and the relation between the two • Scientific American: Are we back to Stoicism?

  17. Assignments • Augustine, • Confession XI, • City of God XI • Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy, Book 5 • Aquinas, On the Eternity of the World http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-eternity.html • Newton “Scholium” available at http://www.isaac-newton.org/scholium.htm (optional) • Hawking, Brief History of Time, pp1-11 and 165-175

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