Chapter 1: Understanding Time’s Concept

My therapist has encouraged me to articulate my understanding of time, likely to help me reflect on how I allocate it and how I envision my future. This prompts significant introspection about the nature of time itself.

Commonly, we hear phrases like, “That’s all in the past,” “Move on,” or “There’s no time like the present.” These expressions suggest that time flows in a singular direction, akin to a river, with us as passengers on a vessel. We are born, we develop, and eventually, we pass away, which seems rational. However, in a thought-provoking article from November 14, 2018, in Scientific American titled “Do We Actually Experience the Flow of Time?” Bernardo Kastrup posits that time may not actually flow; instead, it could be perceived as a series of snapshots. Memories represent past snapshots, while our visions of the future are merely projections or concepts. I picture it as a film: the perceived motion is merely a sequence of still images that, when illuminated correctly, create the illusion of movement. If only the present moment truly exists, does that imply I'm never actually late?

Neuroscientists suggest that our experience of time is merely a cognitive construct. Philosopher William James from the 19th century noted one of time’s many paradoxes: it seems to speed up when we are enjoying ourselves, but drags on when we are anxiously awaiting something, like our daughter’s return after curfew. Let’s consider this further. While your daughter enjoys her night out, she perceives time as flying by, whereas your experience of the same duration feels excruciatingly slow. Although both of you are technically experiencing the same minutes according to the clock, your perceptions of that time are fundamentally different.

To complicate matters, Dr. Bradford Skow from MIT proposes the Block Universe theory, which asserts that all moments—past, present, and future—coexist simultaneously. I like to refer to this as “God time,” an eternal existence beyond our temporal constraints. This theory could provide a basis for the coexistence of free will and predestination, suggesting that perhaps the Presbyterians had a valid point. If this model holds true, it implies that time travel could be conceivable. Should time not be a linear progression but rather a simultaneous existence of all events, then the idea of time travel starts to make logical sense. Interestingly, researchers from the Moscow Institute, along with colleagues from Switzerland and the United States, claim to have achieved time travel of sorts. While they didn’t resolve the Cold War, they did manage to make a quantum computer move backward by a fraction of a second.

Generally, we recognize four dimensions, with time being the fourth. Some theorists even suggest the existence of at least ten dimensions, but I will stick to the four for now. As a three-dimensional entity, can I traverse the fourth dimension as easily as I could transition to a two-dimensional form? I can illustrate two dimensions in a drawing or painting, yet even the canvas possesses a third dimension. Perhaps quantum computers, existing within the digital realm, can navigate these dimensions due to the intricacies of E=mc².

So, what implications does this have for those of us dwelling in the ever-present now? It all feels quite reminiscent of “The Matrix.” At the very least, it provides insight into why I seek therapy.

Chapter 2: The Flow of Time and Its Implications

In understanding time, it's essential to recognize how it influences our lives and decisions.

The first video, "Papa Roach - Time And Time Again (Pepsi Version #1)," explores the themes of time, capturing the essence of how we perceive and experience it in our lives.

The second video, "Time And Time Again - Josh Baldwin," delves deeper into the emotional and philosophical aspects of time, illustrating its profound impact on our existence.