At discussed time and entropy, ending with:
> In the planning of processes people make use of clock time
> which increases linearly. But in these processes themselves time increases
> nonlinearly -- sometimes faster and sometimes slower. This mismatch
> between
> linear clock time and nonlinear phenomenological time is nothing else than
> the source of "time dissonance". The mismatch can be as serious as
> trying to match a straight line and a circle. The solution to the problem
> of "time
> dissonance" is to think more in terms of increases in entropy
> and less in terms of increases in time AS WELL AS to distinguish between
> large (edge of chaos) or small (close to equilbrium) increases in entropy.
When I was a young engineer, I was recommended (and accepted) for a new
job by these words:
"Time means nothing to him." I was at first, amused by the comment, and
later, disturbed by it.
Why was I disturbed? In truth, time means nothing to me. To me, it is a
theoretical, perception based measure of movement of bodies in space. The
linear time I spend watching a fawn browsing in the forest, hugging my
child, or simply feeling the impossible notion of immortality is indeed
different that the linear time spent in trying to bring a new product to
market. The strange thing about this: both can occur within the same
envelope, the same block, or packet, of time. The comment that time means
nothing to me, however, means that I have been observed spend large blocks
of time bringing the product to market and consequently, smaller blocks
hugging my child.
The way we measure time is derived from an arbitrary set of criteria
decided upon by some ancient observers, refined by dead scientists, and
standardized by a Pope. And yet, I have an appointment at 7:20 AM which
must be completed by 8:00 AM so that I can prepare for a 9:00 AM
meeting.....
I know how to measure time. I use a watch or a clock, the position of the
Sun or stars, or the weariness of my mind or bones to tell me I've used
enough for this task. In some way, this perception of time connects us to
the stars, to eternity, and yet, it limits us to a small set of metrics.
At may have something of interest in the 'entropy clock'. When I made
computer components, prototype cycles entailed twenty-four to thirty-six
hours of chaos. In the development on automotive components, I now have
eighteen to twenty-four months of false equilibrium with several cycles of
chaos mixed in to keep us awake!!
So much for time. I've run out of it in favor of the chaos of a snowy
highway between here and the factory.....
John Zavacki
--"John Zavacki" <jzavacki@greenapple.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>