The Time Machine Theory
Material bodies do not move but merely extend through four dimensions. Immaterial minds move along the fourth dimension, successively perceiving three dimensional cross-sections of four dimensional bodies.
Comments On The Theory
I argue against mind-body dualism. See Minds And Brains.
However, accepting the Time Traveler's theory for the sake of argument, minds take time to move along the fourth dimension which, therefore, is not time, as stated, but is an invisible extension of space.
Unless it is known that minds move at a uniform rate, it remains possible that, at any given time, we are conversing with unconscious human bodies whose minds have not reached them yet or have left them behind. (Absurd.)
In fact, on this premise, how does any of us know that any other minds exist?
The Time Machine Practice
The three dimensional Time Traveler and his three dimensional Time Machine move more rapidly along the fourth dimension than any other three dimensional objects!
Comments On The Practice
This contradicts the theory.
Again, motion along the fourth dimension takes time. Therefore, that dimension is not time.
The Time Machine moving faster than everything else should leave everything else behind and should have to wait for everything else to catch up.
If a three dimensional universe is moving at a uniform rate along a fourth dimension, then what it it moving (changing its position) in relation to?
The Corridors Of Time
Corridors are constructed in space, then rotated onto the temporal axis, so that, having entered one such temporal corridor, it becomes possible to walk or drive between years or centuries, each corridor extending for two centuries. The width of the human body corresponds to a couple of months (quoting from memory here) which contradicts the relativistic understanding that a year in time should correspond to a light-year in space.
Anderson does a better job of treating time as a fourth dimension than Wells.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Wells was a pioneer in the new genre of science fiction. The contradictions and absurdities you found in THE TIME MACHINE have to be expected, in one way, of a pioneer. In another way, of course, Wells had an inadequate understanding of physics. The Einsteinian revolution and quantum mechanics were still in the future when Wells wrote that story.
Ad astra! Sean
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