Understanding the World Through Physics: Insights from ‘The Order of Time’
I come from a science background but have always possessed a liberal arts sensibility. In high school, physics was a challenge, while the intricate mechanisms of biology captivated me. More than a decade after graduation, I assumed physics would no longer hold any significant sway over my life.
This book, “The Order of Time“ by Carlo Rovelli, wasn’t recommended by anyone; the title simply caught my eye. It sat on my shelf for over a year before I finally picked it up. Although the only equation it presents is “∆S≥0” (The Second Law of Thermodynamics), grasping the concepts within “The Order of Time” was far from easy. I doubt I fully understood even half of it. Nevertheless, I struggled through it, grappling with the author’s teachings, and now wish to share the small, refreshing insights I gained about the nature of reality.
Objective Time = Subjective Time
We live within time. Our lives begin and end within its confines, and our very existence can be viewed as the flow of time itself. Time is a fair resource, available to everyone. Depending on how we spend it, we can lead lives revered by many or lives that pass as unnoticed as flowing water.
Among the tools humanity possesses today, science is considered the most objective index for observing and understanding the world. Physics, in particular, explores the laws of the “physical world.” Through the lens of “The Order of Time,” I realized that objective physical “time” and my subjective thoughts on time are not so different—reminding me of the idea that all disciplines ultimately unify.
The Arrow of Time: Understanding Entropy First
To understand the physical basis of time as explored in “The Order of Time,” we must grasp a key concept. The formula below is crucial as it is the only indicator in fundamental physics that reveals a “flow” or direction of time.
“∆S≥0”
This is known as “The Second Law of Thermodynamics.” ‘S’ stands for entropy, which measures the level of disorder. The formula means ‘change in entropy is always greater than or equal to zero.’ In simpler terms, thermal energy never spontaneously decreases; heat always moves from a hot object to a cold one.
When you pour hot water into a cold cup, heat transfers, and the cup gets hotter. Hot water has agitated molecules (high disorder), while a cold cup has relatively still molecules (order). Nature inherently moves from order to disorder. This increasing disorder is what we perceive as the flow of time, a central theme in “The Order of Time.”
The Evolution of Physics: From Newton to Einstein
To understand time, we must also look at space. The concepts have evolved significantly throughout history.
Ancient philosophers like Aristotle believed time measured change and that true empty space couldn’t exist. Later, Newton introduced the concepts of “absolute time,” which flows regardless of any objects, and “absolute space.”
Both viewed time and space as separate. Einstein revolutionized this, showing they are interwoven into “spacetime.” The physical reality of our universe is composed of fields formed by countless quanta. The most significant example affecting us is the gravitational field.
Mass creates gravity, and gravity warps spacetime. The stronger the gravity, the slower time flows. A clock on a mountain ticks slightly faster than a clock at sea level. Furthermore, time slows down for objects in motion. As “The Order of Time” emphasizes, time is not absolute; it is relative.
The Absence of a Universal “Now”
Due to these relativistic characteristics, a universal “present” or “now” does not exist in the universe.
Imagine a friend on a planet 4 light-years away. If you see them walking through a telescope, are they walking now? No, you are seeing light that left 4 years ago. There is no shared “now” across cosmic distances.
“The Order of Time” explains that reality is structured not linearly, but in cones of “past” and “future” relative to an observer. Outside these cones is the “extended present,” with which we cannot have a causal relationship in this instant. Our perception of a shared present is a localized illusion. We must shift from perceiving the world as “things” to perceiving it as a network of “events.”
Perceiving the World as “Events,” Not “Things”
Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, once said, “Everyone is a book.”
Reading “The Order of Time” gave this quote new meaning. A person, like a book, is a collection of traces (history) left in the world. By interacting with others, our brains—our neural wiring—grow and change.
Life is a series of interactions. We are shaped by the people we meet and the pain we endure. A person is an event, a history. Depending on the interactions (physical and social events) we have, one specific future out of many possibilities emerges.
The Quantum Nature of Time
Physics, and Rovelli’s analysis in “The Order of Time,” tells us that time itself is essentially quantum. It has granularity; it is not continuous but composed of discrete “time quanta.”
Furthermore, like electrons, time exists in a state of “quantum superposition” until it interacts with something physical. This interaction is what we call an event. A stopwatch clicking or receiving a test score are physical events that resolve the superposition of time into a specific reality.
The Brain: Evolved to Predict the Future
Why do we perceive time flow if it’s so complex? Because we evolved in an environment governed by entropy.
Our brain’s primary job is to manage the body’s “budget” for survival. To do this efficiently in a world where entropy always increases, the brain evolved to predict.
Our brain constantly uses past experiences to predict future events and adjust actions. Taking a test, dodging a flying ball—these are our brains navigating the flow of entropy by predicting outcomes. We are creatures designed to handle the uncertainty of the future.
Conclusion: Knowledge Determines the Future
The difference between dodging a ball and planning a career is just the scale of time. How our brain responds to these scales determines our future.
I believe “self-assurance” is the ability to navigate this process. It’s about shaping the future by collapsing the probabilities of time in a desired direction.
Physics, biology, philosophy—they all connect. Even with my limited understanding, I share these thoughts to emphasize the importance of reading. Integrating knowledge through reading is the tool that allows us to define our time and specify our future. The more tools you have to understand the world, the higher your chances of thriving. Carlo Rovelli’s “The Order of Time” is a challenging but powerful tool to add to your collection.
Further Reading for Context
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