TIME
Days, months and years seemed to take almost forever when I was young. Now, in old age, my life seems to pass more quickly.
Question: If we knew not the concept of time would it really matter? I am reminded of the ancient Greeks who believed humanity originally had the gift of clairvoyance. When they realised the cause-and-effect of their actions, they became detached and less motivated to perform day-to-day tasks. As a consequence, the gods revoked this gift.
Conversely, 'time' does not care what we think, nor what we do. It cares not any more than do the rocks, plants and probably animals of our world. And I doubt all the stars and planets in the universe care about time. It is only us, we humans who measure and care about time.
Why? Well, it's like this. As the human brain evolved over 'time', our neurological development of the cerebral cortex, basil ganglia and cerebellum, together in tandem, facilitated the 'time perspective'. Or, more simply put, when our brain has more details about memory the longer the moment seems to last. And the more familiar the world becomes the less information our brain writes down, thus the more quickly time seems to pass. That's why we think childhood summers seem to go on forever, while as we grow older time seems to speed up.
Time. It's a mind game.
© Breyel, Timm. "Time". All rights reserved.
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