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What Is Time?: The Classic Account of the Nature of Time
G. J. Whitrow (1912-2000) begins this classic exploration of the nature of time with a story about a Russian poet, visiting London before the First World War. The poet's English was not too good and when he asked a man in the street, 'Please, what is time?' he received the response, 'But that's a philosophical question. Why ask me?'.
Starting from this simple anecdote, Professor Whitrow takes us on a good-humored and wide-ranging tour of the thing that clocks keep (more or less). He discusses how our ideas of time originated; how far they are inborn in plants and animals; how time has been measured, from sundial and hourglass to the caesium clock, and whether time possesses a beginning, a direction, and an end. He coaxes the diffident layman to contemplate with pleasure the differences between cyclic, linear, biological, cosmic, and space-time, and he provides frequent diversions into fascinating topics such as the Mayan calendar, the migration of birds, the dances of bees, precognition, and the short, crowded lives of mu-mesons, particles produced by cosmic-ray showers that exist for just two millionths of a second.
This reissue of the classic and authoritative What is Time? includes a new introduction by Dr J. T. Fraser, founder of the International Society for the Study of Time, and a bibliographic essay by Dr Fraser and Professor M. P. Soulsby of the Pennsylvania State University.
Starting from this simple anecdote, Professor Whitrow takes us on a good-humored and wide-ranging tour of the thing that clocks keep (more or less). He discusses how our ideas of time originated; how far they are inborn in plants and animals; how time has been measured, from sundial and hourglass to the caesium clock, and whether time possesses a beginning, a direction, and an end. He coaxes the diffident layman to contemplate with pleasure the differences between cyclic, linear, biological, cosmic, and space-time, and he provides frequent diversions into fascinating topics such as the Mayan calendar, the migration of birds, the dances of bees, precognition, and the short, crowded lives of mu-mesons, particles produced by cosmic-ray showers that exist for just two millionths of a second.
This reissue of the classic and authoritative What is Time? includes a new introduction by Dr J. T. Fraser, founder of the International Society for the Study of Time, and a bibliographic essay by Dr Fraser and Professor M. P. Soulsby of the Pennsylvania State University.
- GenresSciencePhilosophy
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
G.J. Whitrow
11 booksGerald James Whitrow was a British mathematician, cosmologist and science historian.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 11, 2015
As expected, no answer at the end. But no new information or a new approach to the problem. Only a historic review from the past to nowadays.
May 29, 2025
If this is the same book as the Dutch version called "Wat is tijd?" from 1974, this is the best book on the subject. If I had read this book first three years ago, I would not have been on this quest for understanding this subject as much as I have now: it is that comprehensive, and mentions all interesting angles on the subject. The last two chapters are masterful, and boil down all discussions of what we know of time and the block universe and the dilemma of conciousness and the "now". Amazing writer, this prof. Whitrow. Up there in my book with the greatest, what a book. If you are in the know, and you see how all his subtle comments fit together, referring back to each other and being consistent in the dilemma between basically two worldviews, there is much to be admired. What a book, and even more, what a great writer / teacher.
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March 21, 2024Prateleira nan
March 12, 2016
Time. We are constantly faced with the issue of time. “I don’t have enough time to accomplish that task.” “If I could go back in time, I’d make State.” (statement courtesy of Uncle Rico). What exactly is time? Have we ever taken the time to stop and think about time or is just something that seems to tick away for us from cradle to the grave?
Recently, I have been giving some thought as to the nature of time. In Scripture, the issue of time is everywhere. We are on a progressive movement on a timeline towards the end of days. One can argue that time became a construct for humanity at creation and before that point there was no such thing as time in the manner we understand it to be today. This of course begs the question as to what eternity future will be like. The reality is the subject of time has been a focus of civilizations throughout history. Many of those civilizations approached time in various ways. In his helpful book aptly titled What is Time?: The Classic Account of the Nature of Time, Dr. G. J. Whitrow walks the reader through this important subject.
Whitrow begins by examining how the concept of time originated. We clearly organize our days by a calendar and the passage of time and the ancients did the same, albeit in a different manner. I was very much fascinated by the fact many ancient cultures believed in a cyclical view of time rather than the linear approach of more modern civilizations. While Whitrow does not delve much if at all into how time was viewed in a biblical sense, the view of the ancients helps us have a sense of how time is presented in Scripture. We see a number of processes and cycles throughout Scripture. In fact, the movement of “time” from the Garden of Eden to a place of future redemption is presented as a cycle, namely that of redemption. We also see the cycle found within agriculture, cycles of rebellion and repentance. While these cycles move in what seems as a linear progression, in fact, it can be asserted based on the concepts presented by Whitrow that any linear movement takes place within the overarching framework of process and cycles.
Another fascinating aspect of this book is Whitrow’s engagement of the biological clocks subsumed within creation, both man and animal. In fact, we often speak of a woman’s biological clock. Additionally, we can observe cycles within nature that are repeated like clockwork such as the migration of animals to warmer climates at the onset of winter.
How we count time is also discussed by Whitrow. Throughout history, man has devised various ways to calculate the passage of time, not only within the framework of a day, but also over longer periods of time. Some of the ancient calendars and methods of accounting for time were quite precise. While some of Whitrow’s discussion was a bit over my head as it engaged quite a number of scientific facts that are outside of my knowledge base, the information was nevertheless quite fascinating and further demonstrates the importance of all things time when it comes to our daily lives.
In the concluding chapter of this book, Whitrow makes what I believe to be an important observation regarding the reality of time based on the studies of scientists. He notes, “Nowadays most of us tend to accept automatically the idea that time is continuous because we believe in the continuity of our existence. Until the present century it was also possible to believe in the continuity of matter and energy, but with the establishment of the atomic theory of matter and of the quantum theory we have been compelled to abandon those beliefs.” The fact of the matter is time is drawing to a close, namely to the end of days outlined in Scripture. Thus, a biblical view of time can be rooted in the grasp of time as a series of cycles within a larger cycle all moving towards a defined end point.
While Whitrow’s perspective is not totally rooted in Scripture, this is after all not a theological text. What one can learn from this book is the various points I noted in this review, most notably how the ancients perceived time and how that perception of time as a cyclical process towards a defined end determined by the Creator is a reality. What is time? If you have every pondered that question, take a look at this book. It just might help you appreciate the idea and reality of time. I can say one thing and that is reading this book is definitely not a waste of time.
I received this book for free from Oxford University Press and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Recently, I have been giving some thought as to the nature of time. In Scripture, the issue of time is everywhere. We are on a progressive movement on a timeline towards the end of days. One can argue that time became a construct for humanity at creation and before that point there was no such thing as time in the manner we understand it to be today. This of course begs the question as to what eternity future will be like. The reality is the subject of time has been a focus of civilizations throughout history. Many of those civilizations approached time in various ways. In his helpful book aptly titled What is Time?: The Classic Account of the Nature of Time, Dr. G. J. Whitrow walks the reader through this important subject.
Whitrow begins by examining how the concept of time originated. We clearly organize our days by a calendar and the passage of time and the ancients did the same, albeit in a different manner. I was very much fascinated by the fact many ancient cultures believed in a cyclical view of time rather than the linear approach of more modern civilizations. While Whitrow does not delve much if at all into how time was viewed in a biblical sense, the view of the ancients helps us have a sense of how time is presented in Scripture. We see a number of processes and cycles throughout Scripture. In fact, the movement of “time” from the Garden of Eden to a place of future redemption is presented as a cycle, namely that of redemption. We also see the cycle found within agriculture, cycles of rebellion and repentance. While these cycles move in what seems as a linear progression, in fact, it can be asserted based on the concepts presented by Whitrow that any linear movement takes place within the overarching framework of process and cycles.
Another fascinating aspect of this book is Whitrow’s engagement of the biological clocks subsumed within creation, both man and animal. In fact, we often speak of a woman’s biological clock. Additionally, we can observe cycles within nature that are repeated like clockwork such as the migration of animals to warmer climates at the onset of winter.
How we count time is also discussed by Whitrow. Throughout history, man has devised various ways to calculate the passage of time, not only within the framework of a day, but also over longer periods of time. Some of the ancient calendars and methods of accounting for time were quite precise. While some of Whitrow’s discussion was a bit over my head as it engaged quite a number of scientific facts that are outside of my knowledge base, the information was nevertheless quite fascinating and further demonstrates the importance of all things time when it comes to our daily lives.
In the concluding chapter of this book, Whitrow makes what I believe to be an important observation regarding the reality of time based on the studies of scientists. He notes, “Nowadays most of us tend to accept automatically the idea that time is continuous because we believe in the continuity of our existence. Until the present century it was also possible to believe in the continuity of matter and energy, but with the establishment of the atomic theory of matter and of the quantum theory we have been compelled to abandon those beliefs.” The fact of the matter is time is drawing to a close, namely to the end of days outlined in Scripture. Thus, a biblical view of time can be rooted in the grasp of time as a series of cycles within a larger cycle all moving towards a defined end point.
While Whitrow’s perspective is not totally rooted in Scripture, this is after all not a theological text. What one can learn from this book is the various points I noted in this review, most notably how the ancients perceived time and how that perception of time as a cyclical process towards a defined end determined by the Creator is a reality. What is time? If you have every pondered that question, take a look at this book. It just might help you appreciate the idea and reality of time. I can say one thing and that is reading this book is definitely not a waste of time.
I received this book for free from Oxford University Press and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews