Perspectives on the Age of the Earth and Why They Matter 1527543854, 9781527543850


228 113 13MB

English Pages [580] Year 2020

Report DMCA / Copyright

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Table of contents :
Table of Contents
Preface
Section I
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Section II
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Section III
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Section IV
Chapter Eighteen
Section IV
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Section V
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Section VI
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Section VII
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Recommend Papers

Perspectives on the Age of the Earth and Why They Matter
 1527543854, 9781527543850

  • 0 0 0
  • Like this paper and download? You can publish your own PDF file online for free in a few minutes! Sign Up
File loading please wait...
Citation preview

Perspectives on the Age of the Earth and Why They Matter

Perspectives on the Age of the Earth and Why They Matter By

Francis Ö. Dudás

Perspectives on the Age of the Earth and Why They Matter By Francis Ö. Dudás This book first published 2020 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2020 by Francis Ö. Dudás All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-5275-4385-4 ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-4385-0

7ൺൻඅൾඈൿ&ඈඇඍൾඇඍඌ 7DEOHRI&RQWHQWV ........................................................................................v Preface ..................................................................................................... vii Section I: We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea ...................................................1 &KDSWHU-HQQLIHU¶V6WRU\ ......................................................................... &KDSWHU)DVW)RUZDUG ...........................................................................  &KDSWHU)DVW)RUZDUG5HGX[ ................................................................ Section II: The Symphony....................................................................... &KDSWHU6\PSKRQ\+DOO ....................................................................... &KDSWHU%DVLFV:KDW,%HOLHYH ............................................................ &KDSWHU$SSURDFKLQJ*RG7KURXJK&UHDWLRQ...................................... Section III:7KH$ZHIXO5RZLQJ7RZDUG*RG ........................................  &KDSWHU7KH5RZERDW ........................................................................... &KDSWHU7UDGLWLRQDVD:D\RI.QRZLQJ .............................................. &KDSWHU,QVSLUDWLRQDVD:D\RI.QRZLQJ .......................................... &KDSWHU5HDVRQDVD:D\RI.QRZLQJ .............................................. &KDSWHU0RUH/LPLWV ........................................................................... &KDSWHU7KH3UREOHPRI6FDOH ............................................................ &KDSWHU0RUH/LPLWDWLRQVRI.QRZOHGJH ........................................... &KSDWHU6RPH&DYHDWV ........................................................................ &KDSWHU$+LVWRU\RI,QWHUSUHWDWLRQV.................................................. &KDSWHU&KULVWLDQ&UHDWLRQLVW3HUVSHFWLYHV ........................................ &KDSWHU+RZ6FLHQFH9LHZVWKH$JHRIWKH(DUWK ...........................  Section IV:/RRNLQJIRU5HDO(VWDWHLQ:KLWH¿VK)DOOV ........................ &KDSWHU$)UDJPHQWRID0HPRLU ....................................................  &KDSWHU)UHVK$LU ............................................................................. &KDSWHU7KH*UHQYLOOH2QLRQ ...........................................................  &KDSWHU7KDZLQJ2XW........................................................................ &KDSWHU+RZ/RQJLQWKH)UHH]HU"...................................................  &KDSWHU9DFDWLRQLQWKH%DKDPDV ....................................................  &KDSWHU%HIRUHWKH2FHDQV&DPH.....................................................  &KDSWHU7KH*UHQYLOOH0RXQWDLQ+LJK ...........................................  &KDSWHU7KH6XGEXU\'LNHV ............................................................. 

vi

7ൺൻඅൾඈൿ&ඈඇඍൾඇඍඌ

&KDSWHU$6XUSULVH ...........................................................................  &KDSWHU:KDWWKH+XURQLDQ+DVWR6D\ ...........................................  &KDSWHU%HIRUHWKH+XURQLDQ............................................................  &KDSWHU7KH&RUHRIWKH2QLRQ,W¶V$ERXW7LPH ...........................  Section V:7KH6FLHQFH$9LVLRQ7KURXJKWKH.H\KROH ......................  &KDSWHU3OD\LQJ0XVLFDO&KDLUV .......................................................  &KDSWHU,VRWRSLF5HDOLW\ ...................................................................  &KDSWHU'HYHORSLQJ'DWLQJ0HWKRGV ............................................... &KDSWHU6\VWHPDWLFVRI5DGLRDFWLYH'HFD\...................................... &KDSWHU3ULQFLSOHVRI'DWLQJ$QDO\VHV.............................................  &KDSWHU/HWWKH&RXQWLQJ%HJLQ....................................................... &KDSWHU:H:DQWWR&RXQW&ORVHG6\VWHPV ....................................  &KDSWHU)URP,VRWRSLF5DWLRWR$JH ................................................. &KDSWHU6SHFL¿F,VRWRSLF6\VWHPV ................................................... &KDSWHU'R7KHVH6\VWHPV:RUNLQ5HDO/LIH" ............................... &KDSWHU:KDW$ERXW:KLWH¿VK)DOOV" .............................................. Section VI:8QORDGLQJWKH&DPHO .........................................................  &KDSWHU-HOO\%HDQV .......................................................................... &KDSWHU)UDPHRI5HIHUHQFH8QLIRUPLWDULDQLVP ............................. &KDSWHU5REHUW*HQWU\DQG5DGLRKDORV ........................................... &KDSWHU1RQ8QLIRUPLWDULDQ&UHDWLRQ'D\V .................................... &KDSWHU&KDOOHQJHVWR8QLIRUPLWDULDQLVP .......................................  &KDSWHU&UHDWLRQLVW&ULWLFLVPRI,VRWRSLF'DWLQJ ............................. &KDSWHU7KH5$7(6WXG\ ................................................................ &KDSWHU5$7(3URSRVDORI/DUJH6FDOH0L[LQJ .............................  &KDSWHU5$7((YLGHQFHRI$FFHOHUDWHG'HFD\..............................  &KDSWHU7KH&KDUDFWHURI³3URRI´ .................................................... &KDSWHU:KDW+DSSHQHGWRWKH-HOO\%HDQV" ................................... Section VII:7KH9LHZIURP+LOO .................................................. &KDSWHU7KH6HDUFK3DUW\ .................................................................  &KDSWHU7LPH$0DQ\6SOHQGRUHG7KLQJ.......................................  &KDSWHU7KH9LHZIURP+LOO .....................................................  &KDSWHU*R7HOO,WRQWKH0RXQWDLQ.................................................. Notes .......................................................................................................  *ORVVDU\ ..................................................................................................  %LEOLRJUDSK\ ........................................................................................... ,QGH[ ....................................................................................................... 

3උൾൿൺർൾ 7KLVERRNLVDERXWWKHJDSLQSHUFHSWLRQDQGDWWLWXGHEHWZHHQWKH RIWKH86SRSXODWLRQWKDWEHOLHYHVWKHHDUWKLVOHVVWKDQ\HDUVROG DQG WKRVH ZKR DFFHSW WKH VFLHQWL¿F GHWHUPLQDWLRQ WKDW WKH HDUWK LV  ELOOLRQ\HDUVROG,WLVDERXWLQYHVWLJDWLQJWKHDJHRIWKHHDUWKDQGKRZ WKDWVHHPLQJO\LQQRFXRXVLQYHVWLJDWLRQOLQNVWRZKDWZHWKLQNZHNQRZRI VFLHQFHWRZKDWZHEHOLHYHDQGWRKRZWKDWNQRZOHGJHDQGEHOLHIORFDWH XV LQ WKH FRQWH[W RI D EURDGHU XQLYHUVH ,W ZHDYHV WRJHWKHU WKUHH SRLQWV RIYLHZ²SHUVRQDODQHFGRWHVFLHQWL¿FDQGSKLORVRSKLFDOREVHUYDWLRQDQG SROHPLF7KHUHDUHWKHUHIRUHGLVWLQFWFKDQJHVLQWRQH±VRPHVHFWLRQVDUH OLJKWUHDGLQJRWKHUVDUHSUHWW\GHQVHDQG\HWRWKHUVDUH,KRSHFKDOOHQJ LQJWRRXUFRPIRUWDEO\DFFHSWHGYLHZVRIWKHZRUOG What I hope I have done in this book is to provide an entry, for a PRGHUDWHO\OLWHUDWHDXGLHQFHWRZRUOGVRIVFLHQFHDQGSKLORVRSK\WKDWZH QRUPDOO\GRQRWSRQGHU,QWHUPVRIVFLHQFHWKLVERRNGLVFXVVHVWKLQJV WKDWDUHPRUHGHWDLOHGWKDQDW\SLFDOKLJKVFKRRORUHYHQLQWURGXFWRU\ FROOHJH FKHPLVWU\ FODVV PLJKW GLVFXVV EXW LW VWRSV ZHOO VKRUW RI ZKHUH UHVHDUFKLQWRIXQGDPHQWDOFKHPLFDODQGSK\VLFDOSULQFLSOHVKDVWDNHQXV ,WLVQRWGL൶FXOWVFLHQFHEXWLWSRNHVLWVQRVHLQWRDQDUHDRIVFLHQFHWKDW LVQRWURXWLQHO\WUHDWHGLQLQWURGXFWRU\WH[WERRNV,WGLVFXVVHVVRPHWKLQJ RIWKHSKLORVRSK\RIWLPHRUSHUKDSVPRUHDFFXUDWHO\WKHKLVWRU\RIWKH SKLORVRSK\RIWLPHWRFRQVWUXFWOLQNVEHWZHHQWKHLVVXHRI³WKHDJHRIWKH HDUWK´DQGWKHODUJHUTXHVWLRQVRISKLORVRSK\SDUWLFXODUO\WKHTXHVWLRQRI ³KRZGRZHNQRZ"´ )RUPHWKHERWWRPOLQHKDVEHHQWKHGDLO\ZRQGHUWKDWZKDWZHGH¿QH DVWKHODZVRIFKHPLVWU\DQGSK\VLFVZRUNUHSURGXFLEO\DQGSUHGLFWDEO\ $QGWKH\ZRUNQRWRQO\LQWKHODERUDWRU\WKDWZDVP\KRPHIRUPRUHWKDQ DGHFDGHEXWLQWKHODERUDWRU\QH[WGRRUDQGLQWKHODERUDWRU\LQ3DULV DQGLQWKHRQHLQ%HLMLQJ7KHUHLVDIXQGDPHQWDOUHDOLW\WKDWRXUVHSDUDWH H[SHULPHQWVGHVFULEHDQGYHULI\7KLVOHDGVPHWREHOLHYH±DQG,XVHWKDW WHUPLQWHQWLRQDOO\±WKDWZKDWZHKDYHPHDVXUHGLVFRUUHFWDQGDFFXUDWH within the uncertainties that attend our methods. %XWZHPXVWEHDZDUHDWDOOWLPHVWKDWZKDWZHFRQVLGHU³QDWXUDOODZV´ DUHRXURZQGHVFULSWLRQV±WKH\GRQRWLQDQ\ZD\³JRYHUQ´ZKDWRFFXUVLQ QDWXUH1DWXUHLVLQYDULDEO\PRUHFRPSOH[DQGVXEWOHWKDQRXU³ODZV´FDQ SRVVLEO\FDSWXUHDQGWKHUHVXOWLVWKDWRXUGHVFULSWLYH³ODZV´ZLOOLQYDUL DEO\RQO\EHDSSURDFKHVWRWUXWKRUUHDOLW\WREHXSGDWHGDQGUHYLVHGDVRXU

viii

3උൾൿൺർൾ

NQRZOHGJHRIWKHZRUOGDURXQGXVEHFRPHVPRUHGHWDLOHGWKLVXSGDWLQJ and revision is the necessary process of science. 7KHUHLVDJUHDWMR\DQGZRQGHUIRUPHLQUXEELQJVKRXOGHUVZLWKQHZ ideas. The wonder is because these ideas are the products of the greatest PLQGVRIP\RZQVSHFLHVDQGDUHDFFHVVLEOHWRPHWKHLGHDVDUHWKHFRUGV WKDWWLHPHWRWKHKLVWRU\RIKXPDQLW\DQGOLQNPHRQWKHRQHKDQGWR3ODWR, DQG$ULVWRWOH, and St. AugustineDQG.DQW, and on the other hand to Newton and EinsteinDQGDKRVWRIRWKHUOLJKWV7KHMR\GHULYHVDWOHDVWLQSDUWIURP P\RZQDELOLW\WRUHFRJQL]HWKDWWKHVHLGHDVGHVFULEHWRVRPHGHJUHHKRZ, XQGHUVWDQGWKHXQLYHUVH±WKH\UHVRQDWHZLWKP\RZQH[SHULHQFH,FDQYHULI\ WKHP7KH\DOVRVDWLVI\EDVLFKXPDQXUJHV±WKH\VDWLVI\P\FXULRVLW\DQGP\ GHVLUHWRH[SORUH,DPWRRWLPLGWRWU\SK\VLFDOH[SORUDWLRQ±FOLPELQJPRXQ WDLQVDQGWUHNNLQJDFURVV$UFWLFLFH±EXWH[SORUDWLRQRIYLUWXDOVSDFHWKH VSDFHRILGHDVFDQEHHTXDOO\FKDOOHQJLQJ,KRSHWKLVERRNDOORZV\RXDOVR WRUXEVKRXOGHUVZLWKLGHDVWRWHVWWKHPWRUHFRJQL]HWKDWWKH\DUHIDPLOLDU DQGUHVRQDQWZLWK\RXURZQH[SHULHQFHRUDUHDOLHQDQGRXWRIWXQHWRXVH WKHPWRRSHQQHZGRRUVWRXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKHZRUOGZHVKDUH 6FLHQFHLVDVWUXFWXUHPXFKOLNHDODUJHEXLOGLQJZLWKIRXQGDWLRQV ZDOOVDQGVSHFLDOL]HGVSDFHV7KHUHDUHVFLHQWLVWVZKRDUHDUFKLWHFWVZKR GHYHORSDQGGHVLJQWKHEOXHSULQWVRIKRZWKLVVWUXFWXUHVKRXOGEHEXLOW NewtonZDVDQDUFKLWHFWKLVZRUNGHWHUPLQHGWKHSDWWHUQRIWKLVEXLOGLQJ¶V FRQVWUXFWLRQIRUURXJKO\\HDUV,WZDVQ¶WXQWLO(LQVWHLQ, another archi WHFWWKDWPDMRUUHQRYDWLRQVZHUHXQGHUWDNHQ%XWDUFKLWHFWVGRQ¶WDFWXDOO\ EXLOGEXLOGLQJV&RQWUDFWRUVDQGEULFNOD\HUVGR,DPDEULFNOD\HU,WU\WR SURYLGHJRRGVROLGEULFNV±WKLQJV,FDOOGDWD±DQGWU\WRSODFHWKHPFDUH IXOO\LQWRWKHVWUXFWXUHGHVFULEHGLQWKHEOXHSULQWV7KHSHUVSHFWLYHWKDW, EULQJWRWKLVERRNLVDJURXQGXSEULFNOD\HU¶VSHUVSHFWLYH ,DPGHHSO\VXVSLFLRXVRUGLVWUXVWIXORIVFLHQWL¿FPRGHOVDWXUQRIPLQG WKDWGLVTXDOL¿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¿FIXQFWLRQ7KLVERRNORRNVDWGDWDDQGDUJXHVWKDWWKH\DUHJRRGLW

3උൾൿൺർൾ

L[

ORRNVDWPRGHOVIRULQWHUSUHWLQJWKRVHGDWDDQGDUJXHVWKDWWKH\DUHFRQVLV WHQW7KHVHWZRFULWHULD±JRRGGDWDZLWKFRQVLVWHQWPRGHOV±VXJJHVWEXWGR not prove that the interpretations of those data are correct. 7KHEXLOGLQJRIVFLHQFHLVDKXPEOLQJDQGHJDOLWDULDQSURFHVV 5DUH LV WKH VFLHQWLVW ZKR KDV QHYHU KDG WR DGPLW±³, ZDV ZURQJ´ 7KH SHRSOH ZKRDUHLQYROYHGLQEXLOGLQJWKLVVWUXFWXUHFRPHIURPDOOFRUQHUVRIWKH JOREHDQGWKHLURQO\WLFNHWVIRUDGPLVVLRQWRWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQVLWHDUHWKH ZLOOLQJQHVVWRZRUNKDUGDQGWKHKXPDQFDSDFLW\IRUUHDVRQ7KHOLWHUD WXUHFLWDWLRQV±LQLWLDOVDQGDODVWQDPHXVXDOO\±KLGHWKHLUJHQGHUVDQGRWKHU human features, but the work we do does not discriminate by gender, or UDFHRUQDWLRQDOLW\RUUHOLJLRQRUDQ\RWKHURIDKRVWRIVRFLDOO\FRQGLWLRQHG GLVFULPLQDWRU\FULWHULDZHDUHDQHTXDORSSRUWXQLW\HVWDEOLVKPHQW:H GRGLVFULPLQDWHKRZHYHUEHWZHHQVFLHQWL¿FDQGXQVFLHQWL¿FDSSURDFKHV WRLQYHVWLJDWLQJUHDOLW\WKHODWWHUKRZHYHUGH¿QHGLVH[FOXGHG,QPDQ\ ways, this process brings out the best in humanity. Section I discusses how and why I ended up writing this book. Section ,,WULHVWRLOOXPLQDWHKRZ,WKLQNDERXWWKHUHODWLRQEHWZHHQVFLHQFHDQGUHOL JLRQZKLFKLVRQHRIWKHIXQGDPHQWDOLVVXHVLQWKHGLVFXVVLRQRIZKHWKHU WKHHDUWKLVYHU\\RXQJRUYHU\ROG7KHDJHRIWKHHDUWKLVDVXEVHWRIWKLV ODUJHUWRSLFWKHUHODWLRQEHWZHHQVFLHQFHDQGUHOLJLRQ,WLVDOVRDVXEVHW LQSDUWRIWKHTXHVWLRQRIZKHWKHUHYROXWLRQDQGFUHDWLRQDUHFRPSDWLEOH FRQFHSWV)LQDOO\ORRNLQJDWWKHEURDGHVWVSHFWUXPRILVVXHVWKHDJHRI WKHHDUWKLVDVXEVHWRIWKHIXQGDPHQWDOSKLORVRSKLFDOTXHVWLRQ±KRZGRZH NQRZZKDWZHNQRZDQGKRZZHOOGRZHNQRZLW" 6HFWLRQ,,,FRQVLGHUVWKHDYHQXHVZHKDYHWRNQRZOHGJHDQGWUDFHVWKH history of what humanity has thought about the age of the earth. In it, I HPSKDVL]HZKDW,UHJDUGWREHWKHOLPLWDWLRQVRIRXUNQRZOHGJHUHJDUGOHVV RIWKHVRXUFHVIURPZKLFKZHGHULYHWKDWNQRZOHGJH6HFWLRQ,9LVDELWH LQWRFRPSOH[LW\,Q6HFWLRQ,9,WU\WRRXWOLQHDVLPSOHVRPHZKDWLQQRF XRXVSURMHFWWKDWLQYROYHGGHWHUPLQLQJDJHRORJLFDODJHIt is intended to EHDWDVWHRIJHRORJ\LQUHDOOLIHDYLHZLQWRKRZJHRORJLVWVWKLQNLQWRWKH motivations behind our search for information, and our frame of reference for interpreting that information. ,GHVFULEHWKHOD\HUVRIJHRORJLFDOO\UHO HYDQWEXWPD\EHFKURQRORJLFDOO\LUUHOHYDQWIHDWXUHVWKDWZHUHSDUWRIWKH ODQGVFDSHRIWKLVSURMHFW,DVN\RXWRFRQVLGHUZKDWDUHDOLVWLFKLVWRU\RU WLPHIUDPHIRUWKHVHIHDWXUHVPLJKWEHWRDQVZHUWKHEDVLFTXHVWLRQ±KRZ ORQJPLJKWWKLVKDYHWDNHQ",QRWKHUZRUGV6HFWLRQ,9LVDQDQHFGRWDOYLHZ LQWRKRZ³NQRZOHGJH´LQDVFLHQWL¿FVHQVHLVJHQHUDWHG 6HFWLRQ9LVMXVWVFLHQFHDQGDOLWWOHELWRIWKHKLVWRU\RIVFLHQFH,WU\ WRVKRZKRZWKHGDWLQJRIURFNVOLQNVWRWKHRWKHUVFLHQFHVZHKDYHDQG

[

3උൾൿൺർൾ

WRGHYHORSWKHQRWLRQWKDWQRWDOOURFNVFDQEHGDWHGWKDWQRWDOOGDWHVDUH JRRGDQGWKDWLWWDNHVDIRFXVHGH൵RUWWRPDWFKGDWLQJPHWKRGVWRVSHFL¿F PDWHULDOVVRWKDWUHOLDEOHGDWHVFDQEHREWDLQHG,QDUJXLQJWKDWDQROGDJH IRUHDUWKLVLQFRQWURYHUWLEO\VXSSRUWHGE\WKHEHVWGDWD,UHVSRQGWRWKH DUJXPHQWVRIWKRVHZKRDVVHUWWKDWWKHHDUWKLVOHVVWKDQ\HDUVROG ZKRP,FDOO\RXQJHDUWKFUHDWLRQLVWV ,Q6HFWLRQ9,,DGGUHVVVRPHSKLORVRSKLFDODQGSUDJPDWLFQRWLRQVWKDW KDYHGHYHORSHGLQWKH\RXQJHDUWKFUHDWLRQLVWOLWHUDWXUH,¿QGWKHVHQRWLRQV LQDGHTXDWH DV D EDVLV IRU VFLHQFH DQG WKXV GLVSXWH WKH LGHD WKDW D WUXO\ ³VFLHQWL¿F´FUHDWLRQLVPFDQEHEXLOWRQWKHP0RVWRIP\VFLHQWL¿FFRO OHDJXHVZKRKDYHYHQWXUHGLQWRWKLVGLVFXVVLRQRQWKHDJHRIWKHHDUWKKDYH GHDOWRQO\ZLWKZKDWWKH\NQRZDQGDUHTXDOL¿HGWRGLVFXVVWKHVFLHQWL¿F LVVXHV,QWKLVVHFWLRQ,KDYHFKRVHQDOVRWRGLVFXVVLVVXHVWKDW,KDYHOLWWOH TXDOL¿FDWLRQWRDGGUHVV%HFDXVHWKH\RXQJHDUWKFUHDWLRQLVWDWWDFNRQWKH VFLHQWL¿FDOO\GHWHUPLQHGDJHRIWKHHDUWKSURFHHGVQRWRQO\ZLWKDQDVVDXOW RQWKHQDWXUHDQGTXDOLW\RIWKHVFLHQFHWKDWDUHLQYROYHGEXWDOVRZLWKDQ DVVDXOWRQWKHSKLORVRSK\DQGVRFLDOVWUXFWXUHRIVFLHQWL¿FUHVHDUFK,WU\WR XQGHUVWDQGHYDOXDWHDQGUHVSRQGWRWKHVHFRQGSURQJRIWKLVDWWDFNPXFK DV6HFWLRQ9UHVSRQGVWRWKH¿UVW6HFWLRQ9,DOVRVXJJHVWVWKDWOLWHUDOLVPLQ WKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIVFULSWXUHLVDQLQDGHTXDWHDSSURDFKWRUHOLJLRQ7KXV, EHOLHYHWKDWD\RXQJHDUWKFUHDWLRQLVWLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKHZRUOGDURXQGXV LVLQDGHTXDWHERWKDVVFLHQFHDQGDVUHOLJLRQ6HFWLRQ9,,DVVHVVHVZKHUH, think we stand in this discussion today, and where I think we can construc WLYHO\PDNHSURJUHVV 7KLVERRNFRQWDLQVQRQHZLGHDV,KDYHERUURZHGLGHDVPHUFLOHVVO\ IURPRWKHUSHRSOHDQGRWKHUERRNV,KRSHWKDW,KDYHJLYHQDSSURSULDWH FUHGLWZKHUHLWLVGXHRWKHUZLVH\RXFDQDFFXVHPHRIVWHDOLQJLGHDV7KH best I can say is that I have put these ideas together in some, I hope, read DEOHIRUP,KDYHUHDGVWX൵ HQRXJKWRFRQIXVHP\VHOI DQGKDYHWULHGWR VXPPDUL]HLWVRWKDW\RXGRQ¶WKDYHWR6RPHRIWKDWUHDGLQJDQGWKLQNLQJ ZDVDKDUGVORJ%XWDOODORQJWKHZD\WKLVKDVEHHQDIXQH[SORUDWLRQ, KDYHJLYHQDOLVWRIUHDGLQJPDWHULDOVDWWKHEDFNRIWKHERRNLQFDVHVRPH RI\RXZDQWWRIROORZEUDQFKHVRIWKHSDWK ,QVRPHDUHDVP\WUHDWPHQWRIVSHFL¿FVXEMHFWVLVVXSHU¿FLDO7KHUH DUHPDQ\WKLQJVWKDW,GRQ¶WUHDOO\XQGHUVWDQGDQGWKLVFDPHKRPHWRPH DV,ZDVZULWLQJWKLV,GRQ¶WXQGHUVWDQGPXFKDERXWSKLORVRSK\,VXVSHFW WKDWYLUWXDOO\HYHU\SKLORVRSKLFDODUJXPHQW,PDNHLQWKLVERRNKDVKROHV LQLWDQGLQVRPHFDVHVWKRVHKROHVPD\EHIDWDOWRP\DUJXPHQW,WKRXJKW WKH\PDGHVHQVHZKHQ,ZURWHWKHPDQGP\DPELYDOHQFHDERXWSKLORVRSK LFDODUJXPHQWV±VRPHRIWKHP,WKLQNUHDOO\DUHDERXWKRZPDQ\DQJHOV

3උൾൿൺർൾ

[L

FDQGDQFHRQWKHKHDGRIDSLQRUDERXWZKDWWKHPHDQLQJRI³LV´UHDOO\ LV±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¶WKHRULHV7KH QDWXUHRIWLPHFDQQRWEHGLVFXVVHGZLWKRXWDWOHDVWDSDVVLQJDFNQRZOHGJ PHQWWKDWPRGHUQSK\VLFVKDVDORWWRVD\DERXWLW)RUWXQDWHO\WKHVOLFHRI WLPHZLWKZKLFK,DPFRQFHUQHGGRHVQRWUHTXLUHGHWDLORUNQRZOHGJHDWWKH OHYHOWKDWPRGHUQSK\VLFVKDVUHDFKHG7KHEHVW,FDQVD\LVWKDW,KDYHWULHG WRFRQYH\DFFXUDWHO\DQGIDLWKIXOO\P\H[SHULHQFHDQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI WKHFRUQHURIVFLHQFH±LQPDQ\ZD\VWKHDSSOLHGVFLHQFH±LQZKLFK,KDYH ZRUNHG,DPQRWDWKHRUHWLFLDQVR,WHQGWRYLHZWKHZRUOGLQEUXWHIRUFH ZD\V±DPHDVXUHPHQWLVHLWKHUGRDEOHRUQRWDQGP\FXULRVLW\GULYHVPHWR PDNHLWDVEHVW,FDQ$QG,UHJDUGWKHDJHRIWKHHDUWKDVDPHDVXUDEOHWKLQJ 7KHUHDUHOLNHO\SODFHVZKHUH,KDYHYHQWXUHGRSLQLRQVRUH[SODQDWLRQV LQDNQHHMHUNVRUWRIZD\ZKHUH,KDYHHLWKHUQREXVLQHVVYHQWXULQJDQ RSLQLRQRUZKHUH,KDYHQ¶WLQYHVWHGWKHH൵RUWWRWKLQNWKURXJKZKDW,KDYH VDLG,KRSHP\XQUHÀHFWLYHUHÀH[HVGRQ¶WPLVOHDGPLVUHSUHVHQWRULQGXFH \RXWRDFFHSWVXFKUHÀH[HVZLWKRXWVRPHIRUHWKRXJKW 7KXV FRPSDUHG ZLWK YROXPHV ZLWK WLWOHV OLNH The End of Time, Time Reborn, and From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of TimeRUSKLORVRSKLFDOWUHDWLVHVZLWKWLWOHVOLNHThe Nature of Time, Objective Becoming, and Creation and the World of Science, this ERRNKDVDPRGHVWWDUJHW,WGHDOVZLWKWKHVPDOOVOLFHRIWLPHWKDWGHOLPLWV WKHH[LVWHQFHRIRXUSODQHWDQGLVPHDVXUDEOHZLWKVRPHDFFXUDF\LQWKH REMHFWVWKDWH[LVWRQDQGDURXQGLW 7KHVXSSRUWRIPDQ\SHRSOHFRQWULEXWHGWRWKLVERRN,ZLVKWRWKDQN ¿UVWDQGIRUHPRVWP\SDUHQWV/iV]Oy'XGiVDQG6iUD+DQViJK\'XGiVIRU encouraging my curiosity and for forcing me to try to see things in as broad DOLJKWDVSRVVLEOH,WKDQNP\KLJKVFKRRO(QJOLVKWHDFKHU0U7RP&UQLFK for encouraging me to write and to continue writing. My undergraduate DGYLVRU DW 0RQWDQD 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ :LOOLDP - 0F0DQQLV LQWURGXFHG PHWRGRLQJJHRORJ\LQWKH¿HOG0\¿UVWH[SRVXUHWRLVRWRSHJHRFKHPLV WU\ZDVWKURXJK+LURVKL2KPRWRDQG3HWHU'HLQHVDW3HQQV\OYDQLD6WDWH

[LL

3උൾൿൺർൾ

8QLYHUVLW\'HLQHVZDVP\UROHPRGHORIWKHWUXHVFLHQWLVWKHVKRZHGPH WKHGLVFLSOLQHDQGPHWLFXORXVQHVVWKDWZRUNLQLVRWRSHVUHDOO\ UHTXLUHG $WWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI7HUUHVWULDO0DJQHWLVPRIWKH&DUQHJLH,QVWLWXWLRQ RI:DVKLQJWRQ5LFKDUG&DUOVRQDQG6WHYH6KLUH\LQWURGXFHGPHWRWKH LQWULFDFLHVRIGRLQJUDGLRJHQLFLVRWRSHJHRFKHPLVWU\$OVRDW&DUQHJLHWKH ³/XQFK&OXE´FRQYHUVDWLRQVZLWK*HRUJH:HWKHULOO9HUD5XELQ)RXDG 7HUD $ODQ %RVV 3DXO 6LOYHU DQG RWKHUV UHDOO\ VWUHWFKHG P\ FRQFHSW RI ZKDWLWPHDQVWREHDVFLHQWLVWDQGVKRZHGPHKRZWRDVNVFLHQWL¿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¿W WR KLUH PH WR PDQDJH WKH WUDFHU LVRWRSH VHFWLRQ 6U1GFRPPRQ3E RIKLVODEDQG,DPGHHSO\LQGHEWHGWRKLPIRUWKLV RSSRUWXQLW\$W0,7WKHOLVWRIVXSSRUWLYHFROODERUDWRUVLVORQJLQFOXGLQJ -DKDQ5DPH]DQL3DW:DOVK0DUN0DUWLQ0DUN6FKPLW]%ODLU6FKRHQH %HFN\ )ORZHUV -XOLH %DOGZLQ 1RDK 0F/HDQ 7HUU\ %ODFNEXUQ $QQ %DXHU DQG &KULV 6KHUUDWW 0\ FROODERUDWLRQV ZLWK -DKDQ DQG $QQ FRQ WLQXHWRGD\$QQIRUPHUO\DW