CEFISES Seminar: Vincent Ardourel, “The discrete/continuous representation of time in physics: content or convention?”

Livestream  https://youtu.be/e0onQz9nThg

Speaker: Vincent Ardourel, IHPST/CNRS

Series: OLOFOS

Abstract: Most physical theories represent time as a continuous quantity. For example, it is the case in classical mechanics, the theory of relativity or quantum mechanics. But could scientists dispense with a continuous time and instead use a discrete representation of time? Further, should the representation of time in physics (continuous or discrete) be interpreted as a convention or as scientific content? To investigate these questions, I focus on the case of classical mechanics, for which I examine the possibility of representing time discretely. I then analyse the question of the discrete/continuous representation of time in other physical theories.