Temporal Sovereignty: The Physics, Philosophy, and Economics of Time
Temporal Sovereignty: The Physics, Philosophy, and Economics of Time
Author: Temesgen Muleta‑Erena
TC Press (Codex Press), London
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Abstract
Time remains one of the most contested and foundational concepts across physics, philosophy, and the social sciences. In physics, time is treated as a dimension embedded within spacetime, shaped by gravity and velocity as described by Einstein’s theories of relativity (Britannica 2025). Philosophers debate whether time exists independently of the universe or emerges from physical processes (Cycleback 2021). Cosmology suggests that time began with the Big Bang approximately 13.8 billion years ago, raising questions about whether time is finite or infinite and whether it can exist without matter or energy (Science Times 2025). This essay synthesizes these perspectives, offering mathematical formulations of time dilation, gravitational effects, and entropy. It further examines the implications of time for economic modelling, societal organization, and civilizational planning. Understanding time is essential not only for scientific inquiry but also for long‑term governance, sustainability, and interplanetary exploration. The essay argues for a framework of “temporal sovereignty,” in which civilizations cultivate the capacity to model, govern, and extend their temporal agency across scales of life, economy, and cosmos.
Keywords: Time; Relativity; Time Dilation; Arrow of Time; Temporal Sovereignty; Cosmology; Economic Time; Entropy
Disciplines: Physics; Philosophy; Cosmology; Economics
JEL Codes: B41 PACS: 04.20.-q MSC: 83C99
Document Type: Modular Essay
Introduction
Time is often described as the continuous progression of events from past to future, yet this intuitive definition conceals profound complexity. In classical physics, time is absolute and universal. Newton described time as “absolute, true, and mathematical,” existing independently of the physical world. Modern physics rejects this view. Einstein’s theories of relativity demonstrate that time is relative, shaped by velocity and gravitational fields (Britannica 2025).
Philosophers remain divided on whether time exists independently of the universe. Presentists argue that only the present is real, while eternalists claim that past, present, and future coexist in a four‑dimensional spacetime block (Cycleback 2021). Cosmology adds further complexity: if time began with the Big Bang, then time itself may be finite. Yet models of eternal inflation or cyclic universes suggest that time may extend infinitely in both directions (Science Times 2025).
A central question emerges: can time exist without the universe? Most physicists argue no — time is defined by change, and change requires matter, energy, and physical processes. Without a universe, time may be meaningless.
Mathematical Formulation of Time
Newtonian Time
In Newtonian mechanics, time is absolute:
Special Relativity
Einstein showed that time slows for objects moving at high speeds:
This has been confirmed through atomic clock experiments and particle decay observations (IOSR‑JAP 2025).
General Relativity
Time also slows in stronger gravitational fields:
This explains why clocks on Earth run slower than clocks on the Moon or in orbit (Britannica 2025).
Entropy and the Arrow of Time
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy increases over time:
This gives time its directionality.
Analysis
Time is not merely a parameter in equations; it is a structural feature of physical reality that behaves differently under varying gravitational, cosmological, and kinematic conditions. Understanding these differences requires examining three major domains: relativistic time travel, entropy and the arrow of time, and the role of time in space exploration and planetary environments.
Relativistic Time Travel and Forward Temporal Displacement
Forward time travel is not speculative fiction but a demonstrated physical phenomenon. Special relativity predicts that as an object approaches the speed of light, its proper time slows relative to an external observer. This has been confirmed through experiments involving fast‑moving particles and high‑precision atomic clocks flown on aircraft and satellites (IOSR‑JAP 2025). Astronauts aboard the International Space Station experience measurable time dilation due to both their velocity and reduced gravitational potential, aging microseconds less than people on Earth (Science Times 2025). While negligible for human lifespans, these effects become profound at relativistic speeds. A spacecraft traveling at 0.99c would experience a time dilation factor of approximately 7, meaning one year onboard corresponds to seven years on Earth. This creates a natural form of forward time travel, with implications for interstellar missions, communication delays, and the psychological experience of time.
Backward Time Travel and Causality Paradoxes
Backward time travel remains theoretically contentious. Solutions to Einstein’s field equations — such as Gödel’s rotating universe, Tipler cylinders, and traversable wormholes — mathematically permit closed timelike curves. However, these solutions require exotic matter or cosmological conditions not known to exist (Britannica 2025). Philosophical paradoxes, such as the grandfather paradox, challenge the coherence of backward time travel, while the Novikov self‑consistency principle suggests that events on closed timelike curves must be self‑consistent, preventing paradoxical outcomes. Quantum interpretations, including the many‑worlds hypothesis, propose that backward time travel may be possible only if it results in branching universes rather than altering a single timeline (Cycleback 2021). While speculative, these models illuminate the deep relationship between time, causality, and physical law.
Entropy, Irreversibility, and the Arrow of Time
The arrow of time arises from entropy — the statistical tendency of systems to evolve from ordered to disordered states. While the fundamental laws of physics are time‑symmetric, macroscopic processes are not. Ice melts, but melted water does not spontaneously reassemble into ice without external work. This asymmetry defines the psychological arrow of time (our experience of remembering the past but not the future), the thermodynamic arrow (entropy increase), and the cosmological arrow (the universe’s expansion) (Science Times 2025). Understanding entropy is essential for modelling irreversible processes in physics, biology, and economics.
Time in Space Exploration and Planetary Environments
Time behaves differently on other planets and moons due to variations in gravitational potential. Clocks on Mars run slightly faster than on Earth; clocks on the Moon run faster still. These differences, though small, matter for precision navigation, satellite synchronization, and long‑duration missions. For interstellar exploration, relativistic time dilation becomes a strategic asset: astronauts could travel vast distances while experiencing only a fraction of the time elapsed on Earth. This raises profound questions about identity, communication, and the continuity of civilizations across relativistic time gaps.
Discussion
Time is not only a physical dimension but a social, economic, and civilizational resource. How societies conceptualize and manage time shapes their capacity for coordination, innovation, and long‑term survival. This section explores time across four domains: economics, society, science, and civilizational planning.
Time in Economics: Discounting, Growth, and Intergenerational Value
Economic theory is fundamentally temporal. Discounting — the process of valuing future benefits relative to present ones — shapes investment, savings, climate policy, and intergenerational justice. High discount rates prioritize immediate consumption, while low rates emphasize long‑term stewardship (Cycleback 2021). Growth models, such as the Solow model, depend on assumptions about time horizons, technological progress, and capital accumulation. Behavioural economics shows that humans systematically misperceive time, leading to present bias and suboptimal long‑term decisions. Understanding time is therefore essential for designing policies that align short‑term incentives with long‑term societal goals.
Time in Society: Coordination, Ritual, and Governance
Human societies are structured around temporal frameworks: calendars, work cycles, religious rituals, and political terms. These frameworks enable coordination across large populations. Timekeeping technologies — from sundials to atomic clocks — have historically driven economic and scientific revolutions. Governance itself is temporal: constitutions define terms of office, legal systems define statutes of limitations, and social contracts define obligations across generations. Societies that fail to manage time effectively often struggle with instability, short‑termism, and institutional decay.
Time in Science: Measurement, Causality, and Prediction
Scientific inquiry depends on temporal ordering. Causality requires that causes precede effects; prediction requires models that evolve over time. Physics, chemistry, biology, and geology all rely on temporal scales ranging from femtoseconds to billions of years. Without a coherent understanding of time, scientific laws lose their explanatory power. Advances in time measurement — such as optical lattice clocks — are enabling new tests of relativity, quantum mechanics, and fundamental constants (Britannica 2025).
Civilizational Planning and Temporal Sovereignty
Civilizations rise or fall based on their temporal orientation. Short‑term civilizations exhaust resources, destabilize ecosystems, and collapse. Long‑term civilizations cultivate temporal sovereignty — the ability to model, govern, and extend their temporal agency. This includes long‑term climate planning, intergenerational ethics, archival preservation, and interstellar strategy. As humanity contemplates space exploration and planetary stewardship, understanding time becomes a prerequisite for survival. Temporal sovereignty is therefore not merely a philosophical concept but a civilizational imperative.
Conclusion
Time is the foundational dimension through which all physical, biological, economic, and social processes unfold. It shapes the structure of the universe, the behaviour of matter, the evolution of life, and the trajectory of civilizations. From the relativistic effects that govern space travel to the economic models that determine intergenerational welfare, time is both a scientific parameter and a societal resource. This essay has argued that understanding time requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates physics, philosophy, economics, and governance.
As humanity enters an era of planetary stewardship and potential interstellar expansion, temporal literacy becomes essential. Civilizations that master time — its measurement, its modelling, its ethical implications — will be better equipped to navigate uncertainty, preserve knowledge, and extend their agency across cosmic scales. Temporal sovereignty is therefore not merely an intellectual framework but a strategic necessity for any society seeking resilience, longevity, and purpose in an evolving universe.
References
Britannica. 2025. “Time in General Relativity and Cosmology.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Cycleback, David. 2021. What Is Time? Centre for Artifact Studies.
IOSR Journal of Applied Physics. 2025. “The Truth of Time Dilation.” IOSR‑JAP 17 (2): 19–39.
Science Times. 2025. “Relativity Time Dilation Explained.” Science Times, December 22. Wikipedia. 2025. “Time.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time..
Temesgen Muleta-Erena is an independent economist, sovereign publisher, and epistemic steward based in London. He is the founder of TC Press (The Codex Press), a sovereign imprint dedicated to legacy-driven publishing, ceremonial documentation, and civilizational theorization. His works explore post-labour economics, value theory, planetary coordination, and the recursive architecture of knowledge. His books and essays are archived in global institutions including the British Library, Cambridge, Oxford, Berkeley, and UNAM, and distributed across federated platforms such as Kobo Plus, OverDrive, and Woolaa.com. He publishes modular essays and republical scrolls to activate epistemic sovereignty and inspire coordinated futures.
About the Author
Temesgen Muleta‑Erena, PhD (University of West London) and MA in Economics (University of East Anglia), is an independent economist, sovereign publisher, and epistemic steward based in London. He is the founder of TC Press (The Codex Press), a sovereign imprint dedicated to legacy‑driven publishing, ceremonial documentation, and civilizational theorization. His works explore post‑labour economics, value theory, planetary coordination, and the recursive architecture of knowledge.
His books and essays are archived in global institutions including the British Library, Cambridge, Oxford, Berkeley, and UNAM, and distributed across federated platforms such as Kobo Plus, OverDrive, and Woolaa.com. . He publishes modular essays and republical scrolls to activate epistemic sovereignty and inspire coordinated futures.