The Ideas of Space and Time on Superphysics

The Infinite Divisibility of Our Ideas of Space and Time

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Limitation of the Mind Limits our Cognition of the Existence of Objects

The mind’s capacity is limited and can never fully conceive infinity.

The Infinite Divisibility of Space and Time

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Limitation of the Mind Leads to Indivisible Units Space and Time

The foundation of all human knowledge is the relations, contradictions and agreements of the ideas with their objects.

The Other Qualities of our Idea of Space and Time

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Time is Sensible Only with Changes

Impressions always precede ideas.

Every idea first appears as a correspondent impression.

However, many of our ideas are so obscure that it is almost impossible for the mind to tell their nature and composition.

Where does time come from?

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The idea of time arises altogether from how impressions appear to the mind, without time being one of those impressions.

Five notes played on a flute give us the impression and idea of time.

3 Objections to the Indivisibility of the Atom or Quantum of Space

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mathematicians Reject the Indivisibility of the Quantum of Space

My system of space and time has 2 parts intimately connected.

Part 1 depends on this chain of reasoning:

The mind’s capacity is not infinite.
Consequently, no idea of space or time consists of an infinite number of parts or inferior ideas.
Consequently, space or time consists of a finite number which are simple and indivisible.
Therefore, space and time can exist conformable to this idea.

If it were possible, then they certainly actually exist since their infinite divisibility is utterly impossible and contradictory.

Equality is Different from Infinity

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A few mathematicians defend the hypothesis of indivisible points.

Yet these have the readiest and most proper answer.

They only need to reply that:

lines or surfaces are equal when the numbers of points in each are equal, and
as the proportion of the numbers varies, the proportion of the lines and surfaces also varies.

This answer is proper and obvious.

Definition Of A Straight Line

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mathematicians pretend to give an exact definition of a straight line when they say that it is the shortest way between 2 points.

This is more the discovery of one of the properties of a straight line.

Darkness is not space. It is just the Negation of Light

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Idea of Space is Just Made Up of Points

The second part of my system is that the idea of space is just the idea of visible or tangible points distributed in a certain order.

More Objections

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sight and Touch Alone Cannot Convey the Idea of a Vacuum

The following produce the only perceptions which we can judge of the distance:

the angles of the rays of light flowing from them, forming with each other,
the motion required in the eye, in its passage from one to the other, and
the different parts of the organs affected by them.

Each of these perceptions are simple and indivisible.

The Flow from One Idea to Another is Caused by Animal Spirits

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I establish a general maxim in this science of human nature: wherever there is a close relation between 2 ideas, the mind tends to mistake them and use the one for the other in all its reasonings.

Objections by Mathematicians

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mathematicians will not be satisfied with these answers.

They will immediately propose new objections.

They will probably say I explain only how objects affect the senses, not their real nature and operations.

The Idea of Existence and External Existence

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Idea of Existence Automatically Arises With Every Conception

The ideas of existence and external existence have the same difficulties as the ideas of space and time.

By explaining existence, we shall be more prepared to examine knowledge and probability.