Is time an illusion? Is it real to everyone? Please help

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perception of time, particularly through the lens of a personal experiment conducted by a 15-year-old named Sebastian. He compared his experience of time while sleeping for six hours to his cousin's experience of staying awake during the same period. The conclusion drawn is that while individual perception of time can vary, time itself is not an illusion; rather, it is a measurable phenomenon that we quantify using clocks and timing devices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of accurate measurement tools in understanding time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of physics concepts related to time perception
  • Familiarity with the principles of sleep and consciousness
  • Knowledge of time measurement tools and their significance
  • Interest in the philosophical implications of time
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the psychology of time perception and its variations
  • Explore the physics of time and relativity
  • Investigate the role of sleep in cognitive function and time perception
  • Study the history and development of timekeeping devices
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students of physics and psychology, philosophers exploring the nature of time, and anyone interested in the subjective experience of time versus objective measurement.

Teendreams
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First of all, hi there :)

Im sebastian and I really got a big doubt involving time. I recently turned 15 and many questions have popped into my head as I develop through teenage years, but there is this question that I have stuck in my head since I started studying astronomy/physics at 11 yrs old. The question is, Is time an illusion? I mean, me and my cousin did a small but fun experiment, it was obvious but we still wanted to test it out to see how things "really" went. The experiment was to test time when sleeping. I went to bed at 12:00 AM and woke up at 6:00 AM while my cousin stood up all long 6 hours. Except the time I spent to go to sleep (for ex: 15 mins) I felt my time go way faster, somehow like a time warp, I felt the 6 hours like if it was a zapping second. My cousin somehow managed to stay awake and during the long night. For me time was faster as I converted 6 hours into a second or wait... Was it an illusion? THAT is my point. Time felt faster for me but for him it felt just like Earth's gravity placed it since the beginning. Does that mean that you can travel through time during sleep ( I know it sounds dumb ) or that time is an illusion?

Thanks for reading! :)
 
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No, time is not an illusion. Our perception of time can change depending on the circumstances, but that's why we've invented clocks and timing devices. We ourselves are very poor at making accurate measurements, so we've had to create things which are very good at making accurate measurements.
 

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