First Consequences of Non-existence

Abstract

Time and space are concepts, not phenomena, because they have no physical properties. Their physical non-existence throws their traditional representations and their usual applications into disarray. We thus have a different view on topics such as: the start of an event, the beginning of the Universe, prediction, age/demography statistics, philosophical categories, and the view that philosophy takes of time and space. The diachrony of fundamental constants: the CGPM put an end to the diachrony of the speed of light, but not to the diachrony of Planck’s constant; the spatial constant “π” has an unlimited diachrony. Many cultures live without time and/or without space: the categories of philosophy are not universal. Therefore, there is no reason not to consider the idea of replacing time and space by more efficient parameters. This theoretical study of time and space has faced problems as diverse as the pressure of everyday language, the authenticity of the terms used in translations of ancient texts, and the difficulty in drafting consistent definitions; but there are innovative approaches that can provide answers to many questions.