In the fairy tale by G.H. Andersen the hero receives a task – to put the word "Eternity" from small pieces of ice for what the Snow queen promises it "the whole world and couple of new skates in addition". In this story it is easy to see an allegorical image of mankind which for centuries tries to solve the mystery of eternity.
The eternity represents one of the most difficult and contradictory philosophical categories. The complexity and a contradiction is that the eternity is something opposite to time. The person, as well as all world surrounding him, exists in time. Therefore, the attempt to understand eternity is equivalent to attempt to go beyond own life.
Absolute eternity
The eternity in the highest manifestation is represented as a state something or someone which is not subject to any changes. It is not necessary to identify a similar state with static character and to oppose to development. It does not need development, development is a gradual movement to perfection, to completeness of life. It is supposed, at least theoretically that sometime the perfection will be reached, and the movement is complete.
The condition of absolute eternity initially comprises perfection and completeness of life, respectively, it has no began, the end in time. The concept of time to such state is almost inapplicable. Quite so the eternity of God in monotheist religions is represented: Christianity, Islam, Judaism.
Eternity as recurrence
Other idea of eternity is connected with infinitely repeating cycles. The simplest option – perception of time in the pagan cults based on honoring of natural powers: after winter the spring, after spring – summer, fall, again winter always comes, the cycle is repeated constantly. This cycle was observed by all living, their parents, grandfathers, great-grandfathers therefore something other in principle cannot be presented. Such idea of eternity gains development in a number of philosophical systems, in particular, in stoicism.
Eternity as property of the Universe
The question of eternity in general closely adjoins to a question of eternity of the Universe. In medieval philosophy the Universe was represented having the beginning in time (Creation of the world) and the end in the future. In science of Modern times the idea of static character of the Universe appears. I. Newton put forward the idea of infinity of the Universe in space, and I. Kant – about a beznachalnost and its infinity in time. The theory of the static Universe within which it could be considered eternal dominated in science to the first half of the 20th century when it is succeeded by model of the extending Universe and the Big Bang. According to the theory of the Big Bang, the Universe has the beginning in time, physicists could even calculate its age – about 14 billion years. It is impossible to read out the Universe from this point of view eternal. Rather future the Universe among scientists there is no consensus. Some believe that expansion will continue until all bodies do not break up to elementary particles, and it can be considered the end of the Universe. According to other hypothesis, expansion will be replaced by compression, the Universe will stop existence in its current form. Within these hypotheses the Universe is not eternal. But there is a hypothesis of the pulsing Universe: expansion is replaced by compression, and compression – expansion, and so happens repeatedly. It corresponds to idea of eternity as infinite repetition of cycles. Today it is impossible to answer unambiguously what of these hypotheses is closer to the truth. Therefore, the question of eternity of the Universe remains open.