How to Understand Different Theories of Time

Time is one of the most interesting and confusing ideas of man. Is it real? Can you go back in time? Is it all just perception? This article will help you understand the different theories of time and what they mean.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time

1. linear Time Theory: this is the theory that is the most widely accepted, and the one suggested by most popular religions. Linear time means that time has a definite beginning and end, and that the way things happen is the way it was meant to be. One argument for this theory is that time cannot be infinite because if it was, this point in time could never have been reached because there is an infinite amount of time before it.

2. 
    
   The Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end and then begin again

   Cyclical Time Theory: The Mayans, Inca and ancient Greeks believed that time went around in a circle - time began, ended, and then began again. This resulted in the famous "2012" idea of the Mayans in which the world ends on 12/21/09 and then begins anew.

3. 
    
   Back to The Future 2 expresses the Multiple Universe Theory

   Multiple Universe Theory: this is the idea that every time a decision is made, a separate universe splits off with the opposite action. This means an infinite amount of universes are going on at the same time. This theory is presented in the Back to The Future films - when something in time changes, it creates an alternate universe. Some are similar, like if whether you throw out or recycle your soda can, but others are vastly different, like if Abraham Lincoln hadn't been assassinated.

4. 
    
   Michael Crichton describes how time travel could be possible with the Multiple Universe theory

   Time Travel: Einstein invented a formula that would make time travel possible, but the formula is impossible because it requires infinite energy. The only other theory that allows for time travel is the Multiple Universe theory, because you could theoretically travel from one universe to another that is at another point in time. Michael Crichton described how this could work in his novel 'Timeline'.

5. Could you go back in time and change things? The answer to that question is No, you could not. Even if you went back in time and tried your hardest to change it, it almost definitely wouldn't work. Example: if you went back in time and tried to assassinate Hitler, it wouldn't work. Why should it when many people had already tried and failed?