Can an instantaneous cube exist?' 'Don't follow you,' said Filby. 'Can a cube that does not last for any time at all, have a real existence?' Filby became pensive. 'Clearly,' the Time Traveller proceeded, 'any real body must have extension in four directions: it must have Length, Breadth, Thickness, and-Duration. But through a natural infirmity of the flesh, which I will explain to you in a moment, we incline to overlook this fact. There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space, and a fourth, Time.
In "The Time Machine," the Time Traveller engages in a thought-provoking discussion about the nature of existence and dimensions. He challenges Filby with the concept of an instantaneous cube and questions whether something that exists without duration can be considered real. This sparks a deeper contemplation about the properties of physical objects and their connection to time.
The Time Traveller explains that for a body to be real, it must possess extension in four dimensions: length, breadth, thickness, and duration. He emphasizes that our perception often neglects the significance of time as a vital dimension, suggesting that a true understanding of reality encompasses both the spatial dimensions and the temporal aspect.
