1 . A simple point, shown as the shadow of a one-dimensional line segment, is dimensionless. The line segment, however, extending between two points gives us a single dimension.
- A line segment, shown as the shadow of a two-dimensional plane section, has a single dimension. The plane, however, extending between three points, gives us two dimensions.
- A plane section, shown as the shadow of a three-dimensional tetrahedron, has two-dimensions. The tetrahedron, however, extending between four points, gives us three dimensions.
The higher dimensions appear differently to us. For instance, the fourth dimension is time.
- The tetrahedron itself has three dimensions. When put into motion the fourth dimension appears. However, the shadow, having only two dimensions, is only given a third dimension.
The motion of the tetrahedron from point A to point B, if taken as a whole from past to future, composes the worldline or time worm of the tetrahedron in motion, and may appear as a solid object from the fifth dimension.
- The worldline of the tetrahedron has four dimensions. When it is itself put into motion the fifth dimension appears. This motion is associated with what is called vertical time, and is responsible for our sense of possibilities and choice. As 4D time continues inescapably, 5D provides us with options.
This relationship can theoretically continue forever, with the tetrahedron forming another five-dimensional hypersolid.
This is interesting, because there is some implication here that motion and extension are the same thing viewed from different perspectives.
This corresponds with the notions of the Block Universe, eternalism, and B-time, which has existed at least since the time of the Ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides, and which continued into contemporary thought by way of thinker such as John McTaggart. McTaggart held that time moved in both directions, and proposed what is known as the “B theory” of time. Parmenides held that the collection of all of time, taken as a whole, was singular and motionless.
Consider a sphere:
This sphere is (for purposes of demonstration) a solid, physical shape. It is composed of atoms which are composed of fundamental particles, which appear to us to pop in and out of existence.
The idea with eternalism is quite similar. The Universe is ultimately still and motionless, the way a sphere might appear, even while being composed of particles that are themselves moving around. The sphere is materially composed of the worldlines of the particles. The reason the particles appear to pop in and out of existence is because they are tunneling in another dimension.
