A
number of reformational philosophers, including Dooyeweerd in his early phase,
considered the possibility that time is one of the modal aspects. However a
number of considerations have persuaded most that this is not a viable option. One
is that if time were a separate modality, then the other modal spheres would
both presuppose this time modality, and would no longer be thought of as
integrally temporal in character. Secondly we would need to understand the
specific, irreducible character of time, what is its kernel meaning, what would
be the analogies with other modal aspects? A further point is that the close
connection between time and reality helps us understand the integral coherence
of reality which can be understood to be guaranteed by the continuity of time. A
final point is that while it is common to think of time as physical time, or in
other words clock time that can be measured, we can instead view time as cosmic
and so manifesting itself in all the modal aspects. We now look at how time is
expressed in each of the modal aspects.
Numbers have a natural sequential order so that in counting
we go “successively” from small to large. Smaller numbers are earlier in this
progression, whereas larger numbers come later. All this points to the temporal
order of numbers.
The nucleus of the spatial aspect is continuous extension. Shapes and geometric
figures can only exist if all their parts are present at the same time. Here
time manifests itself in the notion of simultaneity.
Kinematic: Time linked with motion; no motion exists without
physical time. This order of motion is reversible. Here time manifests itself
as continuous flow.
Physical: Time in the physical aspect manifests itself as
irreversible since it deals with energy transfer. Here we find the sequential order of cause
and effect.
Biotic: Here time is expressed through processes of growth,
maturity, decline and death. Whereas in the earlier modal aspects there is a
fixed pace to processes, in the biotic aspect these processes can take place
over different speeds. Some animals and
plants have a short life span, whereas others much longer. The biotic process
is characterised by development and decline, there is a progression of
germination, growth, maturation, ageing and dying.
Psychical: The discrepancy with physical time can before even
more accentuated in emotional time which depends on our mood, tense, bored,
excited, engaged, absorbed etc.. Here time can fly or drag on endlessly.
Logical: Here time is expressed in the starting points,
premises and presuppositions of our thinking and arguing. In a logical argument
the conclusion must follow from the premises in a logically sound way.
Historical: we measure the generational forming of culture with
reference to periods, and to features such as progress and regress. In
understanding historical develop we often have need of biotic analogies
(maturation, flourishing, decline etc.), however these are always in relation
to human formative power and so articulate themselves in terms of reforming or
revolutionary, conservative or reactionary and so on. Being ahead of your time,
or stuck in the past.
Aesthetic: involves both the changing fashions as well as more
lasting styles. Tempo, rhythm and pace of change is important. Is it too slow
allow new (imaginative possibilities) or is it too fast to allow nuance and
ramifications to disclose themselves.
Symbolic: Grammatical tenses, the use of punctuation.
Social: Priority in social relationships. Who has priority
in different social situations, the youngest sibling in a game of cards, the
chairman in opening the meeting, old people for seats on the bus and so on.
Economic: The role of interest, periodic increments in wages
or salary to express the value of experience.
Efficiency and wasting time, spending time wisely etc.
Juridical
time: Prison terms, leases, terms of
office.
Ethical: the urgency to put right a relationship before the
end of the day as scripture recommends. The time it takes for trust to develop
in a friendship.
Faith: the alternation of festival days and ordinary time.
Liturgy. Hope and expectation.
In seeing time expressed through all the modal spheres
we achieve a view of time close to our experience of time. The rhythm of day and night is not just
physical but tied into our biotic clock and psychological experience as shown
in experiments where this rhythm is denied, or in the experience of jet
lag. You visit somewhere quaint on holiday
and say “my, hasn’t time stood still here”.
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