Lecture 6Time, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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