Predavanje na znanstveno-filozofskem simpoziju
Kje: Stari Grad, Hvar
Organizatorja: Rok Zavrtanik in Stan Coenders
Our human civilisation has experience with a variety of approaches how to understand the enigma of time. Each chosen approach defines all of our thoughts and actions, so the question of time is of a paramount importance – not only as a philosophical idea, but also in our everday life. So, it is worth to start with an invitation to inquiery into what I shall call »the intrinsic nature of time«.
We all know two main concepts with regard to the nature of time: cyclic time (prevailing in most of traditional cultures), and linear time (prevaling in judeo-christianity, therefore in the »Western« world). In our modern era, we are still embedded inside this linear description of »time flow«. The liear flow of time was first canonized in religion (the Bible), but the centuries of Enligtment introduced this concept also into science (Newton’s definition of time). Today, science has much to say also about the deeper menaing of time.
From the rise of modern science (16th century) and then up to the mid-18th century, the flow of time was, at least in theoretical physics, reversible: both directions of time were equivalent. But our human experience says: No, there is a unique direction of time, defined by biological time of all living beings, the way »from cradle to grave«. The Law of Entropy (formalised in mid-18th century) affixes the direction of »time arrow« to dissolution of any initial order, to final destruction of just everything. We can find out that this rather sombre worldview introduces, in so many ways, enormous problems into our modern society.
Quite recently, another scientific idea emerged: the concept of syntropy. This is the antidote of entropy. There are not only entropic processes in our Universe, but also syntropic processes do exist – processes that restore beneficient order, not on account of some external force but its inherent creative power. Entropy is in balance with syntropy. So then, one might think that the flow of time can be reversed, and that both directions of time are equivalent? But still, why is this not so, why we still experience a unique direction of time arrow?
This question ushers us into a deep inquiery that I can express only through living, direct communication (very like did sages in the ancient Greece, India, or China), and I intend to do it in our circle. But briefly, the answer is surprising: We are free to choose any direction of time flow, but, in its living experience, every being decides to take the mutually agreed direction of time, in order to be in harmony with all other beings.
So, our ever-new understanding of time is an expression of love. Love is not some isolated idea in the realm of human emotions, it is not some mysterious mystical power; it is rather a clearly determined quality in relation to the temporal structure of our Universe.