Reversing the Arrow of Time

TL;DR

This paper explores the deep connection between time reversal symmetry and the arrow of time, offering insights into physical and philosophical implications of time's asymmetry.

Contribution

It clarifies the relationship between symmetries of time and the arrow of time, integrating physics and philosophy to deepen understanding of temporal asymmetry.

Findings

Time reversal symmetry is linked to the arrow of time.

Understanding symmetries helps clarify what is real about time.

The work bridges physics and philosophy of time.

Abstract

The arrow of time refers to the curious asymmetry that distinguishes the future from the past. Reversing the Arrow of Time argues that there is an intimate link between the symmetries of 'time itself' and time reversal symmetry in physical theories, which has wide-ranging implications for both physics and its philosophy. This link helps to clarify how we can learn about the symmetries of our world; how to understand the relationship between symmetries and what is real, and how to overcome pervasive illusions about the direction of time. Roberts explains the significance of time reversal in a way that intertwines physics and philosophy, to establish what the arrow of time means and how we can come to know it. This book is both mathematically and philosophically rigorous yet remains accessible to advanced undergraduates in physics and philosophy of physics.