Farr, Matt (2025) Time in Classical Physics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Time plays an ambiguous role in classical physics. On the one hand, classical physics allows for a picture of time largely fitting with common-sense views about time, as one-dimensional, and flowing from past to future. On the other, various features of classical physics and formulations of classical mechanics give a less familiar picture of time, as symmetrical between past and future, with apparent teleological qualities. This chapter surveys these varied temporal features of classical physics and draws some conclusions about how to interpret ‘classical time’.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Farr, Matt mail@mattfarr.co.uk 0000-0001-6238-7990
Keywords:	time, classical physics, time symmetry, direction of time, classical mechanics, causality, Newtonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Laws of Nature
Depositing User:	Dr Matt Farr
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2025 12:41
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2025 12:41
Item ID:	26688
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Laws of Nature
Date:	2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26688

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