Exploring the Psychological and Philosophical Implications of Time

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The concept of time, experienced in a unidirectional manner, inherently involves cycles, creating a tension between forward progression and repetitive patterns. This tension has fascinated humanity, leading to various cultural views such as linear progression in Christian beliefs and cyclical rebirth in Eastern cultures. The fascination with time lies in its irreversible movement towards the future alongside the perpetual repetition of cycles, prompting contemplation on the coexistence and interaction between linear and cyclical aspects of time in science, philosophy, and culture.

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Today on Into the Impossible, we’re exploring the fascinating realm of time with none other than the timekeeper himself – Chad Orzel.

Chad is a professor of physics and science communicator renowned for his popular science books, How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog, Breakfast with Einstein, and How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.com.

In his most recent book, A Brief History of Timekeeping, Chad revisits the delicate negotiations involved in Gregorian calendar reform, the intricate and entirely unique system employed by the Maya, and how the problem of synchronizing clocks at different locations ultimately required us to abandon the idea of time as an absolute and universal quantity.

From sundials to sandglasses and mechanical clocks, this sharp and engaging story isn't just about the science of timekeeping—it's a riveting tale encompassing politics, philosophy, and the very essence of space and time.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:07 Judging a book by its cover
00:05:07 Galileo’s telescope helmet
00:10:23 The connection between time and astronomy
00:13:11 Why is longitude so hard to measure?
00:15:32 The relativity of simultaneity
00:22:12 The future of education after COVID
00:25:55 The standard definition of time
00:31:19 Attosecond clocks
00:36:33 Why time is so much more perplexing than space
00:40:23 How to teach students new things
00:43:14 On education
00:49:05 Outro

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➡️ Learn more about Chad Orzel:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/orzelc/

📚 Website: https://chadorzel.com/

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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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