Defining Time
Time, it would seem, has evolved as a function of society. The obvious question arises, would there be time without society, or more generally, would there be time without us to perceive it? Most of us would unhesitatingly reply “Of course!” Upon further consideration however, the answer is not as straightforward as it would appear.
First, we need to consider a definition of time. One would imagine that such a fundamental concept would have an equally unequivocal definition. After all, we refer to and utilize it in every aspect of life. Random House Webster’s Dictionary defines time as the following:
The system of those sequential relations
that any event has to any other, as
past, present, or future; indefinite and
continuous duration regarded as that in
which events succeed one another.
Clearly, our understanding of time is not as comprehensive as we would have hoped. We cannot grasp it as
we can say an apple is a round edible fruit, but all is not lost. Time may still exist as an abstract perception like virtue or morality. Perhaps an assessment of its constructs would prove more fruitful.
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