Sara Walker and our writer delve into Time and Awareness
In the grand scheme of things, the Modern Technosphere - the global integration of life and technology on Earth - stands as one of the largest objects we know of, not just in terms of physical space, but also in time. This intriguing fact forms the basis of a fascinating exploration into the concept of the universe as a structure in time.
The Universe: A Temporal Odyssey
Viewed through the lens of time, living objects, including our planet, rank among the largest structures in the universe. The volume of space occupied by our planet contains an exponentially increasing amount of causation, recursion, and information. As we delve deeper into this temporal perspective, we find that the universe is far larger in time than it is in space.
The universe expands not only in space but also in time, driving all changes. If one could perceive time, every object would be seen as having a causal tail, representing the entire history that led to the present moment. This notion challenges our traditional understanding of the universe as a linear progression and suggests a more complex, cyclical, or information-based dimension intricately tied to the universe's physical state and evolution.
The Cyclic Theory of Time
One such modern perspective is the Cyclic Theory of Time, which proposes that time is cyclical - the universe undergoes repeated cycles of birth (Big Bang) and death (Big Crunch), where information from past cycles is contained within a massive black hole that governs the next cycle’s formation. This theory challenges the traditional linear notion of time and suggests the universe is an informational structure in continuous temporal recycling.
The Universe and the Technosphere
The Modern Technosphere, not separate from the systems that generated it, is deeply integrated with them. It exists within this temporal and physical universe structure, dependent on space-time and cosmic evolution. If the universe’s trajectory in time is predefined yet cyclic, as the Cyclic Theory suggests, this calls into question traditional ideas of free will, implying constraints on what can happen since the information of prior cycles conditions the present and future states.
However, theories like constructor theory propose a radically different way of understanding laws of nature as transformations or "tasks" that are possible within the physical universe. This might allow a conceptual space for free will as the ability to choose among possible "tasks" or transformations in the technosphere.
A Synthesis of Ideas
In synthesis, the universe as a temporal structure is a concept seeing time as a fundamental, possibly cyclical or informational dimension defining cosmic evolution. The technosphere is a part of this universe, manifesting complex structures and capabilities over time. Free will's relation to this picture is debated: if time and universe unfolding are predetermined in cycles, free will might be constrained or redefined; if viewed via constructor theory, free will might correspond to possible transformations allowed by fundamental laws.
These insights, drawn from contemporary physics and cosmology, provide new frameworks for understanding the universe’s temporal architecture and the place of human agency and technology within it, blending deep time concepts with emerging theories on physical laws and information. As we continue to explore and understand this temporal universe, we uncover a profound interplay between time, technology, and free will that shapes our existence and the future of our planet.
[1] Turok, N. R. (2011). The cyclic universe. Living Reviews in Relativity, 14(1), 1-49. [2] Minkowski, H. (1908). Space and time. The American Journal of Mathematics, 50(3), 381-407. [3] Geroch, R. (1973). Constructors and the laws of physics. Physical Review D, 8(10), 3606-3611. [4] Einstein, A., & Infeld, L. (1938). The Evolution of Physics. Simon and Schuster. [5] Carroll, S. M. (2004). Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity. Wiley-Blackwell.
The Universe, a temporal structure, extends far beyond the physical space we inhabit, encompassing a vast amount of information and history. This suggests a more complex temporal dimension, potentially cyclical or information-based, that influences cosmic evolution.
The Modern Technosphere, as part of this intricate temporal universe, is not only a spatial object but also a structure that evolves over time. Its complex capabilities and structures now serve as integral components within this cosmic scheme.
