QM: Does Time exist?

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As promised, I'm starting a thread about theoretical physics. It doesn't mean to be technical.
Theoretical physics is often source of phylosophical reasonings and the real existence of time can possibly raise an interesting discussion:

Let's start from a book: "THE END OF TIME" by Julian Barbour.

Imagine a whole Universe consisting of only three points and a single particle. The possible configurations of this universe are only three: particle in point A, particle in point B and particle in point C.
Lets take a photo of this Universe in all its possible states and make several copies,then call each photo "a slice of space".

Use the slices as a deck of playing cards, then watch them in rapid sequence.
We will have the impression of a particle moving randomicly from one point to another.
Now do the same with our Universe consisting of billions of light years in diameter and approx 10^80 protons. 

The sequence of these enormous slices of spaces is what we call "time".
The conclusion is that Everything may exist simultaneously. The illusion of Time depends only on the position of the slices.

This could potentially explain the two slit experiment and some of the weird paradoces of the quantum mechanics.

A colleague of Julian Barbour, Lee Smolin, has then published a book entitled "TIME REBORN", in which he presents the opposite vision: Time is substantial, absolutely real. 

Both the books are clear and enjoyable and despite the opposite opinions, the two scientists who are also colleagues in the same University, mention each other in a very respectfully way.

Now: which vision of TIME do you prefer is the right one, and why?

Edited by octopus-4 - Yesterday at 09:47

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