The End of Time?

TL;DR

This paper reviews J. Barbour's Machian theories and his proposal that a Machian perspective eliminates the concept of time in quantum geometrodynamics, as discussed in his book 'The End of Time'.

Contribution

It analyzes Barbour's Machian approach and its implications for resolving the problem of time in quantum gravity.

Findings

Machian perspective challenges the traditional notion of time in physics

Barbour's theories propose a timeless universe at the fundamental level

The paper discusses the philosophical and scientific implications of a timeless framework

Abstract

I discuss J. Barbour's Machian theories of dynamics, and his proposal that a Machian perspective enables one to solve the problem of time in quantum geometrodynamics (by saying that there is no time). I concentrate on his recent book 'The End of Time' (1999).