The concept of time has mystified philosophers and scientists for centuries. How does it flow? Can it be altered? Does free will exist in a timeline that seems unchangeable? I have been thinking about time since I was 14. Back then, I was fascinated by H. G. Well’s novel The Time Machine, and the film version of it starring Rod Taylor. I read as much as I could about the various ideas about time—which was hard to do in 1977, as a 14 year old, with access to only a public library that was lacking in books about theoretical physics. However, I managed to envisage time in a way that made sense to me, and came up with an analogy of time using a vinyl record as an illustration. I am presenting this analogy here, in the hope that it might be seen by scientists who are interested in time, and who might find it of use in some way. The vinyl record analogy of time helps simplify our understanding of time by likening it to a vinyl record. This analogy not only addresses several philosophical problems but also implies a deterministic view of the universe, challenging our conventional notions of free will.
The analogy imagines time as a long-playing vinyl record. Each groove on the record represents a specific period, with the entire record encapsulating the entirety of time from the beginning to the end of the universe. The stylus of a record player, moving along these grooves, symbolises the passage of time. This analogy suggests that all moments in time exist simultaneously, much like all parts of a song exist at once on a record. The movement of the stylus (time’s flow) determines which part is currently being “played” or experienced. This analogy addresses several philosophical problems encountered by scientists.
Causal Consistency
One of the significant issues in time travel theory is the problem of causal consistency. Paradoxes such as the famous grandfather paradox, where a time traveller might prevent their own existence, pose logical problems. In the vinyl record analogy, each groove (time period) is immutable. A time traveller could move to different points in time but would be unable to alter any events. This preserves causal consistency, as the timeline remains unaffected by the traveller’s presence.
Observer Effect
The observer effect, where the mere act of observing a system can alter its state, is another critical issue. As a “ghost” in this analogy, the time traveller can observe different time periods without interacting with or influencing the events. This non-interactive presence ensures that history unfolds exactly as it always has, maintaining the integrity of the timeline.
Nature of Time
The vinyl record analogy aligns with the block universe theory in physics, where past, present and future coexist. This concept helps us understand time as a dimension where all points exist simultaneously, making the idea of moving between these points more intuitive. However, while the vinyl record analogy solves several philosophical problems, it also implies a deterministic view of the universe. If every groove on the record is unchangeable, then every event in the past, present and future is fixed. This deterministic framework suggests that all actions and outcomes are pre-determined, raising questions about the nature of free will.
In an immutable time model, the universe operates like a pre-recorded song. Every decision, action and outcome is embedded within the grooves of time. This means that free will, as traditionally understood, is an illusion. Individuals experience making choices, but these choices are pre-determined by the fixed sequence of events. If all events are pre-determined, the sensation of making free choices is merely an experience without actual freedom to alter the course of events. This challenges the core of human autonomy and responsibility.
The vinyl record analogy of time provides a framework for understanding the nature of time and addressing the mentioned philosophical problems related to time travel and causality.
