Time Doesn’t Exist (But You Should Still Set Your Alarm)
Time, philosophy, and hitting the snooze button
The universe never fails to astound us with its beautiful paradoxes.
One of its most intriguing puzzles is the nature of time. Some physicists and philosophers argue that time, as we perceive it, is an illusion.
Yet, despite this fascinating contention, there’s one earthly thing that most of us can’t do without — our alarm clocks.
Let’s unravel this cosmic riddle together.
A Leap Into the Unknown: Unfolding the Illusion of Time
Before we figure out why we should still be bothered with the blaring sound of an alarm, let’s dip our toes into the cosmic waters of time.
Time, as we perceive it, is a fundamental part of our reality.
We feel its passage with every ticking second, every changing season, and every wrinkle added to our faces. But is it as real as we believe?
Einstein’s Perspective: A Fluid Sense of Time
Albert Einstein turned the classical concept of time upside down with his Theory of Relativity.
According to him, time is not absolute but relative.
It can speed up or slow down depending on the speed at which you’re moving and the gravitational force you’re experiencing. If time were a river, Einstein argued that it would ebb and flow rather than steadily trickle down.
Quantum Physics: Where’s Time?
As we journey further, into the realm of the infinitesimally small particles, time seems to disappear altogether.
In quantum physics, equations work perfectly fine whether time moves forward or backward. In fact, at the smallest scale of reality, there’s no “time” as we know it.
An article in Science Alert by Fiona McDonald says it this way:
The time conundrum stems from the fact that, while time only moves forward on the IRL scale, when you look at individual atoms and molecules, it doesn’t much matter to them whether time is moving forwards or backwards — they seem to behave the same way regardless of the direction time’s arrow is pointing.
If time is fluid and perhaps nonexistent at the basic level of reality, why does it feel so palpably real to us?
Something to think about, Daddio.
A Tale of Two Perspectives: Pros of Each Side
Navigating the debates about the nature of time can be a daunting task.
However, both the proponents and opponents of time’s existence offer unique insights into our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
The Case For Time: Practicality and Predictability
Arguing for the existence of time is perhaps the more intuitively appealing stance. After all, we feel the passing of time in our bones, with every passing moment, every beat of our hearts.
Pro 1: Synchronization
Without a consensus on time, our modern society wouldn’t function effectively.
We need time to coordinate our actions, from scheduling meetings to catching flights. As the American Museum of Natural History explains, we define the length of time by the number of ticks on our clocks.
Pro 2: Understanding the Universe
A belief in time also enables us to grasp the universe’s vastness and age.
For instance, the NASA’s estimate that the universe is about 13.7 billion years old is based on the concept of time.
Pro 3: Personal Growth and Progress
Without time, we wouldn’t be able to track our personal growth and development. Time allows us to reflect on the past, plan for the future, and exist in the present.
The Case Against Time: A Quantum Leap
On the other hand, many physicists and philosophers argue against the existence of time, citing evidence from the fields of quantum physics and relativity.
Pro 1: Solving the Riddles of Physics
Many of the problems in modern physics arise due to the inclusion of time as a fundamental entity.
For instance, the search for a theory of quantum gravity — which could tie together the science of very small particles (quantum mechanics) and the science of large-scale phenomena like gravity (general relativity) — has been slowed down because of complications with understanding time.
Some physicists, like Carlo Rovelli, argue that eliminating time from our fundamental theories could be the key to solving these problems.
As Scientific American reports, Rovelli belongs to a small but growing group of physicists who are pushing a controversial idea: that time does not exist.
Pro 2: The Timeless Universe
The “block universe” theory, also known as eternalism, suggests that past, present, and future all coexist simultaneously.
In this view, time does not “flow” but simply “is.” As Dr. Kristie Miller explains in her ABC Science news article, if you adhere to the block universe view, the past and the future are as real as the present.
Pro 3: A More Fundamental Reality
The non-existence of time pushes us to ponder upon a more profound reality — one that is not bound by our human perceptions and biases. This could pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries in our understanding of the universe.
The Human Construct: Time in Our Daily Lives
Even if time is an illusion, it’s an illusion that governs our lives. This is where the importance of setting your alarm clock comes into play.
The Shared Illusion
Human beings are social creatures, and our societies function on the basis of shared understandings.
One of the most critical of these is the concept of time. Schools start at a particular hour, workplaces have set hours, and even our leisure activities are often scheduled. If we decide to abandon our alarm clocks, we risk falling out of sync with the rest of society.
The Magic of Routine
Routines bring order to our chaotic lives.
They are the framework that houses our ambitions and daily tasks. Setting an alarm is a fundamental part of this routine, nudging us towards a more disciplined and efficient lifestyle.
Tuning into Our Biological Clocks
Your alarm clock is not just about getting you to work on time.
It’s also about maintaining a healthy sleep pattern. Regular sleep schedules align with our natural circadian rhythms, promoting better mental and physical health.
The Zenith: Embracing the Paradox
Is time real? Does it flow, is it flexible, or is it a mere illusion?
This debate might continue to bewilder us. However, amidst this cosmic uncertainty, one thing remains pretty terrestrial and real — our daily lives.
The Pragmatic Approach
In the grand scheme of things, whether time exists or not might not change the fact that your boss expects you to be at work at 9 AM.
It’s essential to strike a balance between contemplating these fascinating existential questions and meeting the practical requirements of day-to-day life.
Keeping Time
Setting an alarm can be seen as an act of participating in the grand illusion of time. It’s a small step towards organizing our lives, fulfilling our responsibilities, and maintaining our health.
Final Thoughts: The Timeless Lesson
Even if time is an illusion, it’s a powerful one.
It structures our lives, our societies, and our understanding of reality. Until physicists and philosophers finally solve the riddle of time, it wouldn’t hurt to keep your alarm set.
Because no matter how we perceive time, missing out on important parts of life is a reality we’d all like to avoid.
This might be the most significant paradox of all — time might not exist, but you should still set your alarm. Because whether it’s real or not, it seems to have very “real” consequences.
