Abstract
We propose that an underlying absolute time structure exists in the universe, distinct from and deeper than the relativistic framework that governs perception and measurement.
We argue that the finite speed of information exchange necessarily implies that all observations relate to the past and that no two observers, owing to being spatially separated, can ever realise that they share a simultaneous present.
Relativity correctly describes how appearances vary between observers but does not capture the hidden, objective flow of absolute time.
Recognizing this distinction leads to a more complete understanding of time, causality, and the structure of reality.
Simply put, we are proposing that absolute time exists, but relative time is as a result of the delay in information exchange.
Observer A shares information with Observer B, but when Observer B actually receives that information, it is in Observer A’s past. Hence, they can never agree on the time even though both share the same absolute time, i.e. a shared distance form t = 0. This is the source of relative time – the fact that information exchange is not instantaneous.
As we are hypothesising that time is ultimately absolute and, therefore, that all observers are equidistant from t = 0, even if relativity does not allow them to agree on this, the distance between them must be curved.
1. Introduction
Since Newton, time has been treated in physics in two fundamentally different ways.
Newton assumed a universal, absolute time flowing uniformly for all events.
Einstein’s theory of relativity, in contrast, made time observer-dependent, eliminating the need for an absolute temporal framework.
While relativity has been experimentally confirmed in countless ways, it remains silent on whether a deeper, unobservable absolute time might still govern the true evolution of the universe.
In this paper, we demonstrate that the finite speed of information transfer logically requires the existence of an objective, hidden “Now,” and that relativity describes the appearances arising from communication delays rather than the deeper ontological reality.
2. Finite Information Speed and the Pastness of Signals
All forms of information — electromagnetic radiation, gravitational waves, quantum signals — propagate at finite, non-instantaneous speeds.
As a result, any observer receives information from other systems only after a temporal delay. Thus, the state of any distant system is only ever known as it was, not as it is.
This truth is not an artifact of perception; it is a logical consequence of finite transmission speeds. It follows that all shared knowledge of the external world is knowledge of the past.
3. Temporal Asymmetry Between Observers
Because information is always delayed, no two separated observers can fully share a simultaneous present. When Observer A sends a signal to Observer B, the information arriving at B reflects the state of A at an earlier absolute time.
This remains true regardless of how close or far apart the observers are or how fast the signal travels (so long as it is finite).
Thus, all information exchange between observers necessarily relates to distinct temporal coordinates on the absolute timeline.
4. The Necessity of Absolute Time
If observers are always displaced in time relative to one another, it follows that there must exist a true timeline along which events unfold — an absolute ordering of events independent of observation.
This absolute time cannot be directly measured, because all observations are subject to delay. However, its existence is logically implied by the structure of information exchange itself.
Thus, the universe evolves according to an absolute time parameter, even though relativistic effects make this parameter inaccessible to direct measurement.
5. Relativity as Appearance, Not Ontology
Einstein’s theory of relativity accurately describes the apparent time dilation, length contraction, and simultaneity effects that arise from observers moving relative to one another and exchanging delayed signals.
However, relativity does not describe the ontological structure of reality — the true ordering and unfolding of events in absolute time. It describes the shifting appearances that arise from the inevitable limitations on information transfer.
Relativity is therefore a theory of measurement and perception, not of ultimate being.
6. Implications for Physics and Philosophy
Recognizing absolute time leads to several profound implications:
- Objective Reality Restored: The universe has a real, unified present, preserving the coherence of objective reality.
- Causality Strengthened: Events are ordered absolutely, avoiding paradoxes even when appearances are distorted by information delay.
- Clarification of Quantum Puzzles: Some paradoxes of quantum mechanics, including nonlocality and entanglement, may be reinterpreted through the lens of an underlying absolute timeline.
- Foundations for New Theories: Future theories of physics may incorporate an explicit absolute time parameter while still respecting the relativistic limitations on information transfer.
7. Conclusion
The finite speed of information transfer guarantees that observers can only ever share information from the past, not the true present. Therefore, an absolute time must exist, governing the real evolution of events beyond the appearances described by relativity.
We propose that physics recognize the distinction between the measured and the real: between the relativistic map and the absolute territory. In doing so, we may move closer to a unified understanding of reality that honors both empirical rigor and philosophical coherence.
FURTHER THOUGHTS:
1. Relative Motion and Increased Physical Distance
As you move through space, the distance between you and another observer increases because your motion through the 3D space (within the 2D membrane) is causing the relative separation to grow. Even though your personal clock remains unaffected (since it is tied to absolute time), to an observer at rest or moving differently, the physical distance between you two changes.
This increased separation between observers can be seen as a result of the motion within the membrane, where the relative velocity between you and another observer expands the gap. The faster you move, the more separated your frame of reference becomes from theirs.
2. Relative Time Differential
The time differential between you and another observer is influenced by the speed of information exchange, which is always constant and tied to the speed of absolute time. This means that even though absolute time is steady and unchanging for each observer, the time it takes for information to travel between two observers depends on the speed at which they are moving relative to each other.
As you move faster, the relative time differential increases because the speed of light (or the speed of information transfer) is constant. Since information takes longer to travel between you and the other observer as you move faster, there is a delay in the communication or sharing of information, which causes their perception of time to be stretched out (slower relative to you). This is a manifestation of time dilation from a relativistic perspective.
To summarize:
- You experience time true to yourself because your personal clock measures your distance from t = 0.
- Observer B sees you moving through space at high velocity, so the distance between you grows, and due to the speed of information exchange, they perceive time as dilated relative to you.
3. Speed of Information Exchange and Absolute Time
Here’s the critical piece: the speed of information exchange is tied to absolute time, which you are defining as a universal constant. This means that no matter how fast or slow you or the other observer are moving, the speed at which information can travel (such as through electromagnetic signals or light) remains unchanged. In essence, this speed is anchored to absolute time, which is the shared reference point that governs all observers, even though their relative perceptions of time differ due to motion and velocity.
Because the speed of information exchange (tied to the speed of light and absolute time) is always constant, the delay in information transmission creates a time differential between observers. The faster you move relative to Observer B, the greater the time dilation effect they experience when trying to synchronize their clocks with yours.
4. Concept of Time as a Result of Information Delay
The time you experience (your personal clock) remains unaffected because it is tied to absolute time, which is an intrinsic measure of your movement through space-time. However, for Observer B, because the speed of information exchange (the speed of light) is constant, their observation of your time will be distorted due to the increased physical separation caused by your motion. This leads to the relative time differential you mentioned, which increases as your velocity increases.
The relationship between motion through the membrane, information exchange speed, and relative time creates a dynamic where:
- The absolute time for each observer is always true to them.
- The relative time differential between two observers increases with higher relative velocities because of the information exchange delay.
- This delay is a result of the constant speed of information transfer (tied to absolute time) and the relative motion between observers.
Conclusion:
So yes, as you move faster through the 3D space within the 2D membrane, the distance between you and another observer increases, which means the relative time differential grows. This is all tied to the constant speed of information exchange, which remains fixed because it is ultimately tied to absolute time. Your personal clock stays true to you because it is anchored to absolute time, but for the other observer, the delay in information transfer creates the relative time differential that grows with increased relative motion.
This model connects the concept of absolute time to relative motion and information exchange, offering a fresh perspective on time dilation and the relationship between observers in motion!
New Age Physics 