Abstract
In this article I discuss abstract or pure time versus the content of time, (i.e., events, activities, and other goings-on). Or, more specifically, the utility of these two sorts of time in time-keeping or temporal organization. It is often assumed that abstract, uniform, and objective time is a universal physical entity out there, which humans may perceive of. However, this sort of evenly flowing time was only recently introduced to the human community, together with the mechanical clock. Before the introduction of mechanical clock-time, there were only events available to denote the extent of time. Events defined time, unlike the way time may define events in our present day culture. It is therefore conceivable that our primeval or natural mode of time-keeping involves the perception, estimation, and coordination of events. I find it likely that events continues to subserve our sense of time and time-keeping efforts, especially for children who have not yet mastered the use of clock-time. Instead of seeing events as a distraction to our perception of time, I suggest that our experience and understanding of time emerges from our perception of events.
Highlights
The ability to keep track of events, activities, and other goings-on in our environment is of fundamental importance for our adaptation to the conditions of our earthly habitat
Of particular interest for the account presented here is a class of events which we have experienced many times, and regarding which we possess a substantial amount of knowledge or eventknowledge
I agree with Nelson, but I would like to add that perhaps the experience and understanding of events have a more direct effect on children’s emerging knowledge of time, as our primordial mode of experiencing and understanding time may be by way of events
Summary
Reviewed by: Giovanna Mioni, University of Padova, Italy Thanujeni Pathman, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA. In this article I discuss abstract or pure time versus the content of time, (i.e., events, activities, and other goings-on). The utility of these two sorts of time in time-keeping or temporal organization. It is often assumed that abstract, uniform, and objective time is a universal physical entity out there, which humans may perceive of. This sort of evenly flowing time was only recently introduced to the human community, together with the mechanical clock. Before the introduction of mechanical clock-time, there were only events available to denote the extent of time. I find it likely that events continues to subserve our sense of time and time-keeping efforts, especially for children who have not yet mastered the use of clock-time.
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