What is Time?

In the first excerpt of GJ Whitrow's "What is Time," he focused on the origin of the idea of time as we understand it today. His summary begins with the description of how various cultures, such as the Maya and Egyptians, and religions, like Christianity and Hebrew, influenced the development of the idea of time. One of the most interesting ideas presented was whether time is cyclic or linear. The Maya predicted that history would repeat itself in cycles of 260 years. However, Christians believe that time was linear because the crucifixion of Christ was an event that can never be repeated. I think it is interesting how each culture has its own understanding of time. This difference became apparent to me when I read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold. His novel that features a circular story, is contrasted by most American literature that I have read that tells a story from A to Z.

Another interesting idea that Whitrow proposed was that “all animals except man live in a continual present.” He believes that it is through our “conscious reflection on the human situation” that allows us to distinguish the past from the present from the future. I began to think about how although I am always living the present, but I constantly think about the past and the present. All the pictures on my dorm room wall remind me of things that I’ve already done and people I’ve already met. I also think about the future constantly. Having a plan for the future allows me to not feel aimless. Having an understanding of the future allows me to set goals for myself.

One thing I have begun to think about is whether or not our society is too focused on time. Whitrow notes that “we tend to eat and sleep, not when we feel hungry or tired, but when prompted by the clock.” The mechanical clock guides our lives. If we did not have clocks, society would not be able to function as it does today.

Will time ever stop? And what does that mean exactly? Would everything just freeze? This idea of time ceasing seems far fetched for me, but I guess some believe it is possible. Does the end of time correspond to the end of the universe?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/101027-science-space-universe-end-of-time-multiverse-inflation/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=could-time-end