Time discovers truth». Do you agree?

Seneca said: «Time discovers truth». Do you agree?

This is a very interesting philosophical dictum. Because we cannot always understand the truth. We can only understand this when the time comes for this.

Back to Seneca. His ideal is a spiritually independent sage, free from everything and even from human feelings. Seneca fought tyranny. He did it desperately and fearlessly. For his views, he was repeatedly convicted. Sometimes he was saved. Sometimes he had to serve his sentence. As a result, he was forced to commit suicide. Because he participated in a conspiracy against the emperor Neuron (his pupil).

In general, there is a paradox in this. On the one hand, Seneca is an ardent fighter for the truth. On the other hand, his life experience does not confirm his dictum. Because his opinion are very popular both during his lifetime and to this day. He devoted his life to the fight against tyranny, but this management method is still relevant. And people who oppress other people at the same time may admire Seneca’s thoughts.

But to other famous people Seneca’s dictum is more suitable. This is Copernicus, Giordano Bruno, Leonardo da Vinci, etc. These are people whose ideas were not understood by contemporaries, they were threatened, they were killed. People did not allow that they to express their thoughts. Although now their theories are proven facts.

Seneca’s opinion is not unique. Cicero said about the truth. Truth is the daughter of time. Contemporaries also thought about this. Personally, I really like the expression of Andrei Konchalovsky about the truth. He said that truth is perceived in 3 stages. First, people laugh the truth. The second - they contradict the truth. Third - they perceive it as a banality.

Nowadays, the same thing happens. Fuel companies do not allow electric cars to develop. Energy companies do not allow the development of solar panels, etc. Like the church, it once denied that the earth was round.

I propose to look at Seneca’s dictum from the other side. We do not always need to know the truth right now. Because we may not be ready for it. For example, grandfather gives his grandson advice to dress warmer so as not to catch a cold. Grandson is not listening to him. Although a few decades ago, grandfather himself did not listen to similar advice. And the grandson, when he becomes grandfather, will also give the same advice.

There are times when telling the truth is not entirely good. For example, give a truthful answer to the question of your girlfriend or wife. When she asks: «Honey, have I put on weight?».

In conclusion, I want to say that I agree with the statement of Seneca. And on my own I want to supplement this saying. There is a truth that is known immediately, there is a truth that is known with time, and there is a truth that is not known and is unlikely to be known.