The Uncertainty Principle of Time: Why τ₀ Can Never Be Precisely Measured
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This paper proposes a fundamental uncertainty principle of time: the intrinsic delay parameter τ₀, which governs all causal responses in natural systems, can never be precisely measured. The central argument is that any measurement device, being itself a physical system, must also possess a nonzero τ₀. As a result, attempts to measure τ₀ from within the system are inherently limited by the same delay they seek to resolve. Through reductio ad absurdum reasoning, we show that assuming τ₀ = 0 would violate thermodynamic irreversibility, relativistic causality, and quantum decoherence principles. We conclude that τ₀ is a universal constant defining the temporal resolution limit of the physical universe, akin to ℏ and c, and that its exact value lies forever beyond experimental reach.