Supercalenders

A supercalendar is a theoretical construct in the field of timekeeping, proposed by physicist Julian Barbour. It is designed to address the perceived arbitrariness of the choice of time units and the origin of time in conventional calendars. The concept is based on the idea that the universe has a fundamental time symmetry, and that the choice of time units and origin is a matter of convention rather than a fundamental property of the universe.

In a supercalendar, time is measured in terms of the number of events that have occurred, rather than in terms of a fixed unit of time such as seconds or years. This is based on the idea that the number of events that have occurred is a more fundamental property of the universe than the passage of time. The supercalendar is also designed to be symmetric, meaning that it does not have a preferred direction or origin.

One of the key features of the supercalendar is that it is not based on any particular physical process, such as the rotation of the Earth or the oscillation of a cesium atom. Instead, it is based on the idea that the universe has a fundamental time symmetry, and that the choice of time units and origin is a matter of convention. This makes the supercalendar a purely mathematical construct, rather than a physical one.

The supercalendar has been the subject of much debate and criticism in the scientific community. Some physicists argue that it is a useful theoretical tool for understanding the nature of time, while others argue that it is a meaningless construct that does not correspond to any physical reality. Despite this debate, the supercalendar remains an important topic of study in the field of timekeeping and the philosophy of science.