Jimena Canales, University of Illnois
American Institute for Physics
Current debates about time have left “a hole at the heart of physics” (Scientific American, September 2002). The main problem with contemporary explanations is usually traced to Einstein’s theory of relativity, to the notion of a ‘block universe’, and to his famous claim that ‘the distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion’. While some scientists have tried to incorporate elements of our experience of time into our explanations of the universe, others continue to claim that our sense of time is simply illusory. Can these debates be solved by science alone or are they inescapably philosophical, historical and cultural? My talk will explore the origins of this persistent quandary by focusing on the relation of physics to philosophy, history and the humanities. Can we solve the problem of time without engaging in “Science Wars”?