Time has long been a concept that humanity contemplates, experiences, and values.
Every moment, every emotion passes by; no one can stop or rewind time. The only thing that seems to never change is the continuous flow of time, but does time truly exist as we perceive it?
The question of the existence of time has troubled not only philosophers but also leading scientists like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Both proposed theories about time, but both Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein shared a notable commonality in believing that time is an illusion – a tool created by humans to measure movement and change.
Both Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein believed that time is an illusion.
Time: Concept or Reality?
In popular understanding, time is often viewed as a series of consecutive moments that help us shape our lives through day and night, from spring to summer, and flowers blooming and wilting. The brevity of life makes people feel the need to “seize every moment” and “cherish every second.”
However, from a scientific perspective, time is not a fixed or tangible entity. It is merely a measurement tool devised by humans to count the moments of change. If everything in the universe were to stand still, would the concept of time still hold meaning?
Newton and Einstein endeavored to explain this through their great works. For Newton, time is an absolute factor, existing objectively and unaffected by external circumstances. In contrast, Einstein, with his Special Theory of Relativity, demonstrated that time is not an immutable constant. Time and the mass of an object are closely related, and gravity can alter the flow rate of time. A prime example is a black hole, where immense gravitational force causes time to flow slower compared to other regions of space.
Einstein once stated: “Time does not exist in a fundamental sense; it is merely an illusion of thought.”
Is Time Real or Just an Illusion?
Einstein once stated: “Time does not exist in a fundamental sense; it is merely an illusion of thought.” According to him, human perception of time results from our memory of the movements of everything around us. In other words, we call it time because it helps us understand and record change. But in reality, time is merely a relative concept with no fixed reality.
Experiments and theories about time travel in films and science fiction often hinge on the idea that time can be “bent” or “pierced.” In Special Relativity, Einstein asserted that if an object moves at the speed of light, time for it will stop. This leads to the thought: is time really just an illusion created for humans to perceive change?
Many other scientists support this idea. British physicist Julian Barber, in his book The End of Time, wrote: “The world we see is real, but every moment of our lives is eternal.” According to him, each moment is an unchanging form, and once that moment passes, it will never return. This presents a different perspective on time: instead of being continuous, time consists of immutable stopping points.
Why should we live by time when it is merely a relative concept?
Is Time Important?
If time is merely a relative concept, why do we live by it? From work schedules to sleep, from anniversaries to future plans, everything in human life seems to depend on time. We calculate everything based on fixed time markers, such as needing to go to work at 8 or 9 a.m. and ending a day at sunset. What would life be like if time ceased to exist?
This thought can evoke feelings of confusion and meaninglessness. Humans need time to feel secure and to adjust their behavior. The relativity of time, as demonstrated by Einstein, does not change the fact that we still require a measure to manage our lives.
The Unsolved Mystery
Whether time is an illusion or not, it remains intertwined with human life.
Although scientists like Einstein and Newton have explained that time is merely an illusion, the world is not yet ready to accept this. From mysteries in quantum physics to theories of General Relativity, the question of time remains one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
Advancements in science may one day help humanity uncover the true nature of time. But until then, we must continue to live in the present and respect the values of time in our daily lives.
Regardless of whether time is an illusion, it remains a fundamental aspect of human life, shaping and managing everything around us. And while we cannot change the flow of time, we can learn to live fully in each moment.
