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Mathematical languages shape our understanding of time in physics

Nature Physics volume 16, pages 114–116 (2020)Cite this article

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Physics is formulated in terms of timeless, axiomatic mathematics. A formulation on the basis of intuitionist mathematics, built on time-evolving processes, would offer a perspective that is closer to our experience of physical reality.

In 1922 Albert Einstein, the physicist, met in Paris Henri Bergson, the philosopher. The two giants debated publicly about time and Einstein concluded with his famous statement: “There is no such thing as the time of the philosopher”.

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Fig. 1: Debating mathematicians.

Left: INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo; right: reprinted with permission from ref. 18, Springer

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  1. University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Nicolas Gisin

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  1. Nicolas Gisin
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Gisin, N. Mathematical languages shape our understanding of time in physics. Nat. Phys. 16, 114–116 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-019-0748-5

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