What is Time?G. J. Whitrow (1912-2000) begins this classic exploration of the nature of time with a story about a Russian poet, visiting London before the First World War. The poet's English was not too good and when he asked a man in the street, 'Please, what is time?' he received the response, 'But that's a philosophical question. Why ask me?'. Starting from this simple anecdote, Professor Whitrow takes us on a good-humored and wide-ranging tour of the thing that clocks keep (more or less). He discusses how our ideas of time originated; how far they are inborn in plants and animals; how time has been measured, from sundial and hourglass to the caesium clock, and whether time possesses a beginning, a direction, and an end. He coaxes the diffident layman to contemplate with pleasure the differences between cyclic, linear, biological, cosmic, and space-time, and he provides frequent diversions into fascinating topics such as the Mayan calendar, the migration of birds, the dances of bees, precognition, and the short, crowded lives of mu-mesons, particles produced by cosmic-ray showers that exist for just two millionths of a second. This reissue of the classic and authoritative What is Time? includes a new introduction by Dr J. T. Fraser, founder of the International Society for the Study of Time, and a bibliographic essay by Dr Fraser and Professor M. P. Soulsby of the Pennsylvania State University. |
Common terms and phrases
according animals argued associated astronomers atomic atomic clock bees believed biological clocks birds body caesium calendar Cambridge century circadian circadian rhythms circannual concept Consequently continuous cosmic cycle cyclic defined depends direction distance Earth's effect Einstein Einstein's theory electromagnetic evidence evolution example existence experience external flatworms fundamental observers galaxies given gravitational field human idea influence interval Julian day known laws Leibniz Leibniz's length linear means measurement mechanical clock memory Michio Kaku million Minkowski's motion moving nature neutron stars Newton's objective occurs organisms origin Oxford particle particular past pendulum period philosopher physical plants possible precise principle processes radiation radioactive red-shifts regarded rhythm Schwarzschild radius scientists sense signals simultaneous solar space space-time special relativity speed stars Sun's temperature temporal tend theory of relativity time's arrow tion uniform University Press velocity of light world-lines York Zeit zero Zurvan