Einstein’s theory of relativity has led to much debate and confusion around the nature of time itself. His revolutionary ideas challenged our intuitive notions of time as an absolute, universal phenomenon. Some have interpreted Einstein’s theories to mean that time does not actually exist at all. But is this what Einstein really believed? A close examination of Einstein’s own writings and quotes on time reveals a more nuanced perspective.
What did Einstein actually say about time?
In 1918, Einstein wrote: “We have learnt that time is another form of our intuitions, albeit a most resistant one. Nevertheless, if one abandons the assumption that time and space are independent existences, through which events run their course, one arrives at completely different ways of understanding rendering quite useless the laws of cause and effect.”
Here Einstein is suggesting that our intuitive notions of time as something that “flows” independently is flawed. Time should rather be understood as part of a unified four-dimensional spacetime fabric.
In a letter to the son of his lifelong friend Michele Besso after the latter’s death, Einstein wrote: “For us physicists, the distinction between past, present and future has only the significance of a stubborn illusion.”
This suggests that the linear progression from past to present to future that we automatically assume may be an artifact of human perception rather than an objective truth.
In a lecture in 1925, he stated: “Since there exists in this four dimensional structure [space-time] no longer any sections which represent “now” objectively, the concepts of happening and becoming are indeed not completely suspended, but yet complicated. It appears therefore more natural to think of physical reality as a four dimensional existence, instead of, as hitherto, the evolution of a three dimensional existence.”
Here Einstein argues that the notion of an objective present moment is not valid in the four-dimensional spacetime view. Instead, the perception of the “now” depends on the observer.
So while Einstein dismantled our intuitive notions of absolute time, he did not claim time does not exist at all. Rather, he suggested time is interwoven with space as a four-dimensional spacetime structure. The perception of time flowing from past to future arises from consciousness moving through this fixed spacetime fabric.
What did Einstein say about the reality of time?
In a letter to Michele Besso’s family after his death in 1955, Einstein wrote:
“Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”
Here it may seem like Einstein is denying the reality of time altogether. But in context, he is suggesting that time is not so neatly divided into past, present and future. Rather, all moments exist simultaneously in the spacetime fabric.
Einstein further elucidated in his Autobiographical Notes:
“When you sit with a nice girl for two hours, you think it’s only a minute. But when you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think it’s two hours. That’s relativity.”
This quote illustrates that time is relative – the perception of time passing depends on the frame of reference of the observer. Time flows at different rates depending on relative motion and the presence of gravitational fields.
In a letter to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium in 1945, Einstein wrote:
“The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”
Again, he is not denying time itself, but rather the notion we automatically adhere to that past, present and future are completely separate constructs.
Overall, Einstein did not explicitly state anywhere that time does not exist. Rather, his theories of relativity revolutionized our notions of time as fixed and absolute, suggesting instead that time emerges as part of a unified spacetime fabric. The perception of time passing emerges as consciousness moves through this spacetime.
Did Einstein’s theories prove time does not exist?
Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity revealed that:
– Time is relative – it flows at different rates for observers moving relative to each other.
– Time is interwoven with space as spacetime – influencing space, and being influenced by space.
– Events considered simultaneous for one observer may occur at different times for another observer.
– There is no universal “now” – different observers will disagree on which events occur simultaneously depending on their relative motion.
However, Einstein’s theories did not claim time is completely an illusion either. Rather, they suggested a new understanding of time as emergent from the deeper structure of spacetime.
In Einstein’s universe, time and space cannot be defined independently – they exist as a unified spacetime fabric. But this fabric still constitutes a reality within which events occur in certain sequences, even if simultaneous and past/future designations become relative.
As Einstein remarked: “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” Time, as part of this unified spacetime reality, still shows persistent aspects like the one-way flow of entropy and causality.
So Einstein did not prove time unreal, but rather showed it to be a more complex phenomena interdependent with space, rather than a completely independent universal flow.
Philosophical views on time influenced by Einstein
Einstein’s theories shook the foundations of classical Newtonian assumptions of absolute time and space. Philosophers grappled with the meaning of relativity for our understanding of time’s existence and nature. Some of the key perspectives include:
Eternalism: The view inspired by relativity that all moments – past, present and future – exist simultaneously in a four-dimensional block universe. The passage of time is an illusion.
Presentism: Holds that only the present moment exists. The past and future are not real except in memory or anticipation. Challenged by relativity’s removal of universal “now”.
Growing Block Universe: Suggests the past and present exist, but the future does not until it is added to the existing block. Time is real, but the flow of time happens as new moments accrue.
Time as Dimension: Inspired by relativity, considers time very real as the fourth dimension interwoven with space. Time and space influence and constrain each other.
Logical Positivism: Considers metaphysical debates about time meaningless. Only observable effects of time are relevant to physics and science.
So Einstein’s theories encouraged re-examination of the most fundamental assumptions about the meaning and reality of time. But he did not unambiguously resolve the philosophical debate, leaving room for ongoing discussion.
Conclusion
Albert Einstein’s revolutionary ideas dramatically transformed our understanding of time. He dismantled the classical notion of absolute time, showing it to be relative and interdependent with space.
This led some to interpret his theories as implying time does not exist at all. But a careful reading of Einstein’s own writings and quotes reveals a more nuanced position. He did not explicitly claim time is completely unreal or illusory. Rather, his theories revealed time to be a more complex phenomena than previously assumed.
Einstein showed that, in one sense, time does not exist as the absolute independent entity Newton envisioned. But his spacetime physics still includes time as a real dimension intertwined with space. Events occur in sequences, even if simultaneity becomes relative. So relativistic physics did not erase time, but revealed its interconnected nature with space.
Philosophical debate continues on Einstein’s views on time and their implications for understanding time’s role in reality. But what is clear is Einstein’s revolutionary ideas demonstrated time to be a stubborn illusion far more strange and flexible than our human intuitions assume. More than anything, Einstein’s insight was that time is not at all what it seems.