On the choice of evolutional parameter within a framework of four-dimensional symmetry

Within the context of the variational principle, there is the freedom to choose specific evolutional parameters. Different parameters can be associated with physical time, while allowing the physical laws to preserve the property of four-dimensional symmetry. In this sense, the concept of time has flexibility. Besides proper time and relativistic time, another natural choice emerges, which is called the generalized Galilean time. We study the impact of this choice here. This approach provides a deeper understanding of the theory of special relativity, and it also provides a new basis to study other space-time theories.On leave from Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.