What is time? The passing seconds, hours and
days? The past, the present and the future?
days? The past, the present and the future?
We do not
exactly know, yet. But the concept of time has been around in all
civilizations, Religion, philosophy, science even poetry and arts. The concept
of time has always been there. After all
it is the time that spends us. Nobody sane (and human) can ignore thinking
about this.
exactly know, yet. But the concept of time has been around in all
civilizations, Religion, philosophy, science even poetry and arts. The concept
of time has always been there. After all
it is the time that spends us. Nobody sane (and human) can ignore thinking
about this.
By common
sense, we all understand there was a past, there is a present and most likely
there will be a future. The events are interconnected the past affects the
present and the present will affect the future.
sense, we all understand there was a past, there is a present and most likely
there will be a future. The events are interconnected the past affects the
present and the present will affect the future.
There is a
causality, and anything can only affect the future events it cannot have any
impact on the past.
causality, and anything can only affect the future events it cannot have any
impact on the past.
Such
concept also make it interesting to think about paradoxes when we consider the
time travel.
concept also make it interesting to think about paradoxes when we consider the
time travel.
Concept of time in Philosophy
and Religion
All religions deal with the concept of time in
their own way. While some are quite similar, others differ from each other. But
most of them go like, at t=0; God created the stars, earth etc. He set the
things in motion. Some religions also talk about cyclicity of time. How eras
come and go. And how they will come again. They talk about a past- where we did
something, and we are being rewarded or punished for it now. It also talks
about how our present behavior will influence our future.
their own way. While some are quite similar, others differ from each other. But
most of them go like, at t=0; God created the stars, earth etc. He set the
things in motion. Some religions also talk about cyclicity of time. How eras
come and go. And how they will come again. They talk about a past- where we did
something, and we are being rewarded or punished for it now. It also talks
about how our present behavior will influence our future.
Time helps religion to establish a good
behaviour norm in society. It helps them calm the quirky minds who would
otherwise fall into despair or revolt.
behaviour norm in society. It helps them calm the quirky minds who would
otherwise fall into despair or revolt.
Astrology, which hovered very closely between
religion, philosophy and sometimes even science, is a way to predict one’s
future based on one’s past and present.
religion, philosophy and sometimes even science, is a way to predict one’s
future based on one’s past and present.
Concept of time in Science
Time was considered absolute and sacrosanct in
the world of physics until Einstein came along in the early 20th
century. What he said was something more fundamental and purer about the nature
of the universe. His entire reasoning was based on the logic that “laws of
physics would be same for everyone irrespective of their nature of
(non-accelerated) motion.”
the world of physics until Einstein came along in the early 20th
century. What he said was something more fundamental and purer about the nature
of the universe. His entire reasoning was based on the logic that “laws of
physics would be same for everyone irrespective of their nature of
(non-accelerated) motion.”
This therefore posed a new challenge. From
different experiments and observations, we had found that speed of light
remains constant through all conditions. So, if somebody is moving and still
observing the same speed of light as we do- then they must experience the space
and the time differently.
different experiments and observations, we had found that speed of light
remains constant through all conditions. So, if somebody is moving and still
observing the same speed of light as we do- then they must experience the space
and the time differently.
This opened up a new branch of science. Time
cannot be absolute. Every observer will experience it differently so that their
experience about the laws of physics remain same. It further goes on to talk
about the factors of time dilation, space dilation etc. It also gave raise to
topics of paradoxes like “Twin brother paradox”.
cannot be absolute. Every observer will experience it differently so that their
experience about the laws of physics remain same. It further goes on to talk
about the factors of time dilation, space dilation etc. It also gave raise to
topics of paradoxes like “Twin brother paradox”.
Conclusion
Time is definitely a fabric that helps us
understand a lot about the universe. But, as physics puts it, perhaps our
experiences of physical laws are more fundamental than the time itself. And
that goes in sync with philosophy also.
understand a lot about the universe. But, as physics puts it, perhaps our
experiences of physical laws are more fundamental than the time itself. And
that goes in sync with philosophy also.
You may be 50 years old, but how many days have
you lived? How many days do you remember? Only that part is the meaningful
life.
you lived? How many days do you remember? Only that part is the meaningful
life.
As an old dialogue goes-
“Do not count the life in days but count the
days in life.”
days in life.”
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