Philosophy of Science

From Metaphysics to Mechanics: A Comparative Study on the Concept of Time in Western Philosophy, Islamic Thought, and Newtonian Physics

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Faeze Eskandari 1
Razieh Borjian 2

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 M.Sc. in Physics, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University

10.30465/ps.2025.51619.1777
Abstract
Throughout intellectual history, the concept of “time” has always been regarded as one of the most fundamental ontological notions, inviting philosophical, religious, and scientific inquiry. Each intellectual tradition offers a unique narrative of time. If time is studied as a multidimensional phenomenon (not as an abstract concept), its traces become evident in Western philosophical thought, Islamic philosophical texts, and the laws of classical physics. This article employs a descriptive-analytical method to study the characteristics of the concept of time in Western philosophers’ (Plato, Aristotle), Islamic philosophers’ views (Ibn Bājja, Ibn Rushd), and Newtonian physics to elucidate their similarities and distinctions. A comparative analysis of the concept of time in these three frameworks—Western philosophy, Islamic wisdom, and Newtonian physics—reveals both shared and divergent dimensions, yielding a deeper understanding of time’s complex nature. Thus, this paper seeks to address the following question: How have philosophical definitions of time and the derived concepts paved the way for Newton to describe time based on mathematical choices? The findings of this research lead to a comparative framework that juxtaposes the aforementioned philosophers’ views with Newton’s and demonstrates their direct and indirect influences on Newtonian physics.

Keywords

Time
Physics
Greek Philosophy
Islamic Philosophy
Newton
Philosophy of Science
Volume 14, Issue 2
February 2025

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