The Twin Paradox in Social Sciences and a Possible Theoretical Explanation of Social Asymmetry: The Question of Time and Space

Abstract

The measurement of time is not absolute; therefore, the measurement of space and time depend on the movement in space of individuals and the transformation over time of different social entities. Based on the above, this work analyzes the twin paradox with the aim of understanding how and through what cognitive processes a social asymmetry develops between two twin brothers born in a town in Malaga. The twins have been separated for ten years: One of them lives in Barcelona, in a more industrial environment, while the other, the one who remained in the town, has lived in an agricultural environment. The hypothesis of this research is that during that time – the space-time framework of ten years in which the twins have been separated and which has been perceived by them in a different way – the economic, technological and social conditions have caused social asymmetry through the perception of the reality of the two twins as they live, under their particular experiences, in different social environments. Finally, the possible social asymmetry generated between the two twins after ten years serves to reflect on the importance of the cultural factors and the economic and political institutions to smooth out the possible spatial and temporal imbalances that have shaped the particularities of social environments in which the two twins have lived.