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Letter: Time, consciousness and lunchtime – all illusions

Published 6 March 2019

From Willem Windig, Rochester, New York, US

Reviewing Grace Weir’s artwork at the Institute of Physics in London, Michael Brooks notes that any explanation of time has to bring together incompatible experiences – or show that time is the greatest illusion of all (2 February, p 44). I recall how often time is discussed together with the term “illusion”, as are consciousness and self-awareness. As a scientist, I probably shouldn’t ask, but I will: do scientists use the term “illusion” too easily when we just don’t get it?

Issue no. 3220 published 9 March 2019

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