Like St Augustine, we all know what time is, if no one asks. The problem is that people will ask. This leads to countless personal animadversions and interminable discussions which tend to progress in circles towards the inevitable non-conclusion.
Does time exist? Discounting diversionary responses like “define existence”, the answer must be “yes”. Time exists, but does it exist as something independent, or is it only something that exists in our minds? Compare questions such as: “Does truth exist?”. Again the answer must be yes. It exists as a concept that is relevant to human communication. Without rational beings it has no significance. We know what it means, but philosophers can argue interminably about it. Time is very similar. It is essential to our reasoning, our understanding of the Universe and every aspect of our lives. It is essential to every measurement we make, but without something to measure, it has no significance.
Why do we need to ask more of it?
