Clockwork Universe (Noun)
Meaning
The view that the universe resembles a clock built by God and ticking along according to Newtonian mechanics.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The clockwork universe theory posits that the universe operates with precise mechanical regularity, governed by strict laws and principles.
- Isaac Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation were often seen as evidence of a clockwork universe, with the planets and stars moving in predetermined orbits.
- In the 18th century, the concept of a clockwork universe influenced the development of deism, which viewed God as a master clockmaker who set the universe in motion.
- The clockwork universe idea was later challenged by theories of chaos and randomness, which suggested that the universe was more complex and unpredictable than previously thought.
- The clockwork universe metaphor has also been applied to the workings of human society, with some arguing that social and economic systems can be understood as intricate machines governed by their own set of rules and mechanisms.