Własności czasu według Z. Augustynka

Abstract

In the article a short review is presented of the analysis concerning the notion of time and its properties carried out by Zdzisław Augustynek (in his book entitled “Properties of Time”). Special attention is paid to the so-called problem of time infinity. Augustynek proposes to replace the ambiguous terms “finite” and “infinite” by the two pairs of well defined terms: of a bounded and of unbounded sets, and of a set with and without endpoints. Augustynek prefers two time models (as the only ones consistent with the dialectical materialism), namely the unbounded time-line model and the compact time-circle model. He seems to forget, however, that assuming the time-circle model, one has to reject the doctrine of universal development (evolution). Yet this doctrine is one of the basic principles of the dialectical materialism. The main achievement of the work of Augustynek is the introduction of terminological order into the old dispute strongly connected with the people’s outlook on life.