Article - Time and Space: The Dialectic of Philosophy and Physics in Understanding Existence, Authoress - Taghrid Bou Merhi (Lebanon - Brazil)

Time and Space: The Dialectic of Philosophy and Physics in Understanding Existence

Written By Poet and Translator Lebanese Brasilian TAGHRID BOU MERHI 

The issue of time continues to raise philosophical and physical questions since ancient times, forming a mystery that bridges contemplative thought and scientific experience. While philosophy seeks to explore the essence of time within its spiritual and metaphysical dimensions, physics attempts to explain it through the cosmic laws governing its course. However, when we closely examine the concept of time, we find that the Qur’an does not mention "time" as a direct term, but refers to moments, periods, and hours, which opens up a new perspective to reflect on the deep difference between these two concepts and their influence in shaping our awareness of existence.

Time in human thought is not merely a sequence of moments; it is a system of perception tied to the past, present, and future. It is an intangible concept, something we cannot grasp or control in its flow. On the other hand, "time" is the measure that organizes our daily lives, linked to calculation, timing, and the time systems humans have established to measure the present and connect it to the past and future. While time may seem a more defined and clear concept, modern physics leads us to more complex questions about the nature of time, especially with quantum and relativity theories that have overturned our traditional understanding of this concept.

In classical mechanics, it was believed that time flowed in a straight line, divided into equal parts, and considered an absolute entity unaffected by anything in the universe. However, with Einstein's theory of relativity, this view changed radically, as relativity showed that time is not absolute but relative, depending on the observer's speed and movement relative to other bodies. According to this theory, time can stretch or contract depending on the effects of gravity or speed, meaning that our traditional concept of time as a fixed measure might be just an illusion of perception.

In quantum physics, time becomes even more mysterious. Time does not just flow in one direction; it seems there is an asymmetry between the two temporal directions, where the forward movement of time differs from its reversal. In quantum processes, when a particle interacts with its environment, its state changes as if its past has completely faded away. This means that retrieving any moment in the past is impossible in the quantum world. This property is known as "Time Isotropy," a phenomenon that classical physics had no clear explanation for.

From another perspective, modern physics offers a different model of time in the form of "spacetime," where time is integrated with space into a single four-dimensional fabric. This view transforms the concept of time from merely a sequence of consecutive moments to a dimension entangled with space, meaning that the time we perceive as flowing towards the future is, in fact, a geometric extension within the universe. Thus, what we call "time" is not just a flowing stream but a part of the geometry of existence itself.

What complicates matters further is that some modern physical models, like string theory, suggest that the universe consists not only of the three spatial dimensions and the fourth time dimension but may also contain additional invisible dimensions that affect the nature of time as we perceive it. In this view, time may be merely a projection of a more complex concept beyond our human consciousness, which makes the issue of time a continually renewed matter still raised in the halls of physics and modern cosmological theories.

But if time is not fixed and is affected by physical conditions, can we reshape or control it? Can humanity reach a stage where we can transcend traditional time boundaries, as some theories about time travel suggest? Until now, these questions remain within the realm of hypotheses, but they reflect a deep philosophical and scientific concern about the nature of time itself and the limitations of our understanding of it.

Despite these multiple physical perspectives, the most important question remains: Is time merely a human concept to measure changes, or is it a cosmic reality that transcends human perception? Here, physics intersects with philosophy, as some see time as nothing more than a projection of human consciousness, while others consider it an intrinsic essence of the universe that cannot be separated from its fundamental laws. What is intriguing is that all these perceptions remain under research and interpretation, as science has yet to reach the absolute truth about time, just as Qur’anic exegesis remains a divine science while human interpretation remains limited.

In conclusion, time is not merely a neutral element in the equations of physics; it is a complex concept that exceeds our ability to fully understand. While science continues to uncover its secrets, the rel