Time is not the problem

TL;DR

The paper argues that the so-called problem of time in quantum gravity arises from an unphysical idealization and proposes a new perspective that avoids this issue, offering insights into cosmological problems.

Contribution

It introduces an alternative approach to quantum gravity that circumvents the problem of time by reconsidering the split of geometry and matter.

Findings

The problem of time is due to an unphysical idealization.

A new approach avoids the problem of time.

This perspective offers insights into cosmological constant and horizon problems.

Abstract

Attempts to quantize general relativity encounter an odd problem. The Hamiltonian that normally generates time evolution vanishes in the case of general relativity as a result of diffeomorphism invariance. The theory seems to be saying that time does not exist. The most obvious feature of our world, namely that time seems to progress and that the world changes accordingly becomes a problem in this presumably fundamental theory. This is called the problem of time. In this essay we argue that this problem is the result of an unphysical idealization. We are caught in this "problem of time" trap because we took a wrong turn in the early days of relativity by permanently including a split of geometry and matter into our physical theories. We show that another possibility exists that circumvents the problem of time and also sheds new light on other problems like the cosmological constant problem and the horizon problem in early universe cosmology.