The Idea of Time

One of the most commonplace yet difficult scientific concepts to examine is time; what is time?, how does it flow?, why is it divided as it is?, is it linear or circular?, does time "stop" and when did it begin?, Are we governed by our biological clock or is the elastic time of theoretical physics the "true" concept of time? This volume raises the complex question of "what do we mean when we speak about time?". Examining perspectives on time, how and why we measure time as we do, and time in relation to our lives, the author launches a wide-ranging enquiry into this elusive concept. Bringing in insights from biology, physics, history, literature, music, philosophy, religion and cosmology, this book looks at time and the universe as a whole, from the "beginnings" of time through to the present.