Space and time are not fundamental aspects of the universe from "summary" of Reality Is Not What It Seems by Carlo Rovelli
The idea that space and time are not fundamental aspects of the universe challenges our most basic intuitions about the nature of reality. We are accustomed to thinking of space as the stage on which the events of the universe unfold, and time as the universal clock that measures the passage of these events. But according to modern physics, this familiar picture is not quite accurate. In the framework of general relativity, developed by Albert Einstein in the early twentieth century, space and time are not absolute entities, but rather flexible and dynamic aspects of the universe. They are intimately intertwined in what physicists call spacetime, a four-dimensional continuum in which the fabric of reality is woven. In this view, space and time are not fixed and immutable, but rather malleable and subject to change. The theory of general relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity, showing how it arises from the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of matter and energy. This insight led to a profound shift in our conception of the universe, revealing a dynamic and interconnected cosmos in which the very geometry of spacetime is shaped by the interactions of its constituent parts. The implications of this view are profound and far-reaching. It suggests that the familiar notions of absolute space and time are just approximations that break down in the extreme conditions of the cosmos, such as near black holes or in the early moments of the Big Bang. In these regimes, the classical picture of space and time dissolves, giving way to a more subtle and intricate understanding of reality. By recognizing the relational and contingent nature of space and time, we are forced to confront the limitations of our intuitive grasp of the universe. The fabric of reality is not a static backdrop against which the drama of existence unfolds, but rather a dynamic and evolving tapestry that is shaped by the interactions of its constituent parts. In this view, the universe is a complex and interconnected web of relationships, in which space and time are not fundamental, but emergent properties that arise from the underlying structure of reality.
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