Criteria of Truth - Time

Time

Time is a criterion commonly appealed to in debate, often referred to as "the test of time". This criterion posits that over time erroneous beliefs and logical errors will be revealed, while if the belief is true, the mere passage of time cannot adversely affect its validity. Time is an inadequate test for truth, since it is subject to similar flaws as custom and tradition (which are simply specific variations of the time factor). Many demonstrably false beliefs have endured for centuries and even millennia. It is commonly rejected as a valid criterion. For example, most people will not convert to another faith simply because the other religion is centuries (or even millennia) older than their current beliefs.

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Famous quotes containing the word time:

    By Time and Age full many things are taught.
    Aeschylus (525–456 B.C.)

    If God made me a princess, why didn’t he take a little more time and make my hair so it wouldn’t snarl?
    —Robert N. Lee. Rowland V. Lee. Princess, Tower of London, while the Princess’ mother is combing her hair (1939)

    Time isn’t so important.... We can say that time is behind us, that we’ve had years together.... I can tell you about a thousand wonderful hours we’ve spent together because I feel we would have, inevitably. And there’s not that much difference between the future and the past.
    Kurt Neumann (1906–1958)