STRAIGHT TIME

Sometime in the 1700’s, people began to conceive of time as linear. This is unlike earlier times when time was always considered circular. At other times, time has been perceived as random, or even irregular. Most of the time they say that time is uniform, but there are times when time seems faster or slower. The last time I wrote about time it was for New Years, 2011 when I wrote about biological time. But here it is, New Years for 2012 and time to write another column about time. I guess you could say it was about time.

Contrary to what many believe I am not old enough to recall ancient primitive conditions. Based on what little I have read about early human practices they must have often veiwed time as chaotic, events following events like a whirly-gig. The passage of time brought about unpredictable and dangerous changes, often resulting in dissolution and death. Elaborate rituals developed to appease the spirits in rocks, rivers, trees or animals.

However, for much of recorded history humans have measured time in cycles. As soon as natural cycles, such as diurnal rotation of our planet and lunar months, were recognized, time was measured and perceived as cyclical. Cyclical time allowed greater organization of society and control over the elements. Humans learned to perform certain deeds, such as planting or hunting, at the right times. Cyclical time also introduced a moral dimension. Things could be said to have been done at the wrong or right time. In addition, each generation could begin to compare its behavior to that of its ancestors.

The idea of time as a linear experience, with a distinct beginning leading on to a unique ending, is nearly universal in modern thought. Yet it has not always held strong infleunce on mankind. The concept was recognized by ancient Greeks who hoped that reason would improve mankind’s lot. The Romans had a concept of leading on to a glorious destiny. However, it was the rise of the great monotheistic religions that suggested that mankind might be about something more than fate.

For the common man linear time had little meaning for much of history. It was in the sixteenth century that the invention of science, combined with the Reformation, begin to spread through Europe, leading people to begin speculating about the origins, and the end, of the earth. Later, during the Enlightenment eighteenth century philosophers developed similar progressive ideas involving a secular ‘heavenly city on the hill”.

The idea of linear time assumes that mankind is on a trajectory of progress. Men disagree about when it began and how long it might take. The overall assumption, however, is that we are on a straight line of progress to better things. This thought so pervades modern America that it has shaped our entire culture.

Under cyclical time people valued patience, relatedness of parts, ritual, relationships, nature, and the healing power of time. Modern culture values haste, practicality, concentration, efficiency, analysis, power and control of nature.

If the future can be extrapolated as a straight line, then the past ceases to have relevance. If one does not see any possibility of deviation from the trajectory in the future, they will not consider any deviations in the past as significant. In fact, the past is assumed to have led to this moment when we are just lucky enough to be in existence and the exact apogee of human existence.

I am not sure if time is linear or not. But one thing does worry me. Straight lines do not necessarily lead upward. They can just as easily be downward slopping, something linear progressives often overlook. It ought to give pause that all measures of time that we use are based on repetitive measurements, whether that be the vibration of an atom, the rotation of the earth, the lunar cycles, or the seasons in a year. Maybe that should be enough to give us pause. It’s about time.