4. Time and Space: More on Nonlinear time- it continues

As three-dimensional beings, we perceive time only as a result of memory. We remember what was as a variable interval from what is now. If we had zero memory, we could not detect time - we would exist only for the moment. The result of this is our apparent perception of time as a linear line, always going forward.

Objects whose X, Y, Z axis change (objects in motion) do not exist in time linearly. You cannot change your position in the X, Y, and Z axis without also changing your position in T in a nonlinear fashion.

A perceived fixed object (a stone lying on the ground, a building, a mountain) does move as a consequence of movements through space (Earth orbital, geologic, etc.) and the force moving the object through time. So, even perceived fixed objects move within the space/time continuum - there are no true stationary objects.

For human beings, Tx is our linear perception of the passage of time. We ignore Ty and Tz, as we cannot perceive them directly.

* Thus this inability to perceive both Ty and Tx are locking us in a 3 dimensional conception of time. Therefore, we cannot access nonlinear time as it is out of our conceptual grasp.*

From http://www.west.net/~ke6jqp/spacetime/spacetime3.html

3. Time and Space: Mayan conception of Time

Now this makes a lot of sense and yet reminds me of the imperialism of the eurocentric conception of time, cause and effect that I have been educated to accept.

The Mayans held a tenseless theory of time in which the past, present, and future all
exist.

Time exists as a circuit; future and past flow equally, always meeting and being
united in the present moment.

The Zuvuya is the source of the objective “now point” that accommodates subjective experience.

It is eternal because the present exists at all times, as did the past and future.

The present state, then, is rather a subjective view from where one exists on the
circuit of time.

Interesting point to note that the 13:20 ratio allowed the Mayans to conceive and calculate fourth-dimensional time while Einstein and contemporaries are unable to do so due to the euro 12:60 ratio. How true this is I do not know as I am no mathematical whizz.

Amazing that the Mayans have over 30 calenders of synchronization and had been able to predict cosmic happenings up to the year 2012 with precision.

The author argues that our adherence to the Gregorian Calender's systematic disharmony of physical time has created complexity in psychological time—being conscious of physical time as well.

From http://www6.miami.edu/studorgs/confluence/ConfluencePDFs/Fall_2004/submissions/brown_13moon.pdf

2. Time and Space: Einstein "God does not play dice with the Universe"

As I am such a sucker for nonlinear time and music at the moment, I am devouring any and all information pertaining to this.

Einstein of course believed in mathematical laws of
nature, so his idea of a God was at best someone who formulated
the laws and then left the universe alone to evolve according to
these laws. He saw the hand of God in the precise nature of
physical laws, in their mathematical beauty and elegance, and in
their simplicity. To him, the very fact that there were natural laws
that the human mind could discover was evidence of a God, not a
God who superseded these laws but one who created them.

second part of Einstein’s statement, the
part about not playing dice. This relates to Einstein’s reaction to
the part of Nature described by Quantum Mechanics, which is
undoubtedly one of the pillars of modern physics. He felt that
natural laws could not be like the throw of dice, with inherent
randomness or probability.




From http://www.ias.ac.in/resonance/July2008/p655-661.pdf

1. Time and Space: We are Energy and Nonlinear time considered

Never mind the fact that energy cannot be destroyed, only changed in form. We are dealing here in non-precision in order to get a finite value for the initial attempts.

From http://www.west.net/~ke6jqp/spacetime/spacetime.html


I understand the idea that even when we die, decompose, we no longer exist as being. But as energy, we are simply converted into another form. So now I am wondering how is our being as energy created? I must apply myself more to this.


More exciting things- Objects whose X, Y, Z axis change (objects in motion) do not exist in time linearly. You cannot change your position in the X, Y, and Z axis without also changing your position in T in a nonlinear fashion.

A perceived fixed object does move as a consequence of movements through space (Earth orbital, geologic, etc.) and the force moving the object through time. So, even perceived fixed objects move within the space/time continuum - there are no true stationary objects.

However, the best analogy of an object's existence in space/time is as a ball of yarn gradually increasing in size. There is a beginning (the object's coming into existence). The object continues to exist nonlinearly - the windings of the yarn gradually making the ball larger. At any given moment in the object's existence, time is finite. Always in motion and always with infinite possibilities. And, even though the possibilities for that object are infinite, the object seldom strays from a certain mean - thus the ball of yarn analogy. For example, consider repetitive motions (routines, cycles). These motions repeat, but never precisely - just like adjacent strands in the ball of yarn.

Regardless, unless Tx, Ty, and Tz are entered into the coordinate system, X, Y, and Z are meaningless in the space/time continuum.

Unfortunately, Tx, Ty, Tz, X, Y, Z are a relative coordinate system. They may be minimally adequate to plot from point A to point B in space/time. But, for mapping of the dimension itself, absolute coordinates must be found. For our universe, the absolute coordinates might be derived from the instant of the initiation of the Big Bang, the moment of creation, or whatever other mechanism is discovered for the initiation of the current universe we occupy.



From http://www.west.net/~ke6jqp/spacetime/spacetime.html

Time And Music

According to some religious teachers, quantum physicists and philosophers, Time is non-linear. It is Relative.

We only experience linear time because we are trapped by our physical limitations (of speed), perception and mortality (our lesser copy of Real Time).

These are all beautiful explanations and the trappings of linear time are what makes us human. This is the one medium that adds gravity to all our actions. Some may argue that this perishable quality of our existence robs it of all meaning. I beg to differ, given that I view the seeking of truth not as a linear journey but a non-linear experience that exists and survives with us as a species. And even if we were all to perish, the seeking of truth holds importance for us as a cognitive force within the limits of all universes (us and what may exist beyond linear time).

But yet, the value of truth-seeking suddenly seems to be nothing but a self-comforting activity unless we remember that real time is non-linear. And that we could already have discovered more than we could imagine at this possible moment. But yet if we do not discover in this moment as we are meant to, the pieces will not fit in the puzzle of non-linear time.

I wonder if I can write music to express the idea of this? Two opposing rhythmic melodies traveling at "light speed" in opposite directions?


http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/scisoc/time/chennotes.html ( a simple explanation of Block universe view of time and its negative effects)

Gratitude- A short Anaysis

The final question in my kids' Literature CA2 paper is a personal response question which touches on the concept of "Gratefulness".

Some questions which popped up in my mind: Can Gratefulness be shown towards an object that is unable to register the feeling of gratitude?

Does Gratefulness necessarily entail repayment? (To this, I may say quite confidently that the answer is no. Because firstly it is not always repayable. Secondly, the good act which was extended should be out of free will and not involve any possible hope of being repaid since that would corrupt the deed as a good in and of itself. But then again, I am opening a can of worms with this notion.)


So I went to read up. And Aquinas steps up.

for Aquinas all men are evil as well as incomplete(the contingent nature of human existence and the telic nature of their necessary movement towards the good)

it is a metaphysical need to be fulfilled for man to become what he ought to be.

Aquinas then goes on to say that gratitude is a virtue which men should aspire to develop.

He goes on to explain that a favor may be defined as greater according to the gratuitous nature in which it is given. Hence the greater amount of reciprocal gratitude should be felt/ demonstrated I concur. And this would help seal up the can of worms that I had opened earlier.

Thus according to this logic, the Baby in the Iain Crichton Smith's "The Incubator" would not be showing ingratitude since the machine was designed and programmed to fulfill that function. It possesses no free will and certainly could not have done it out of a want for a good.

Are thanks due to one who works a benefit for profit? I have often wondered about this when my kids thank me for something that I have done for them. Then again I think, I am a teacher, it is my job. This is what I am paid to do. But of course I chose to be in this profession. Definitely I could have done a purely mechanic and produced a minimalistic effort just to keep my job and earn my pay. But still, it bugs me.

To this, I apply myself more and find out that the answer is simple. If the giver exceeds his/her duty and is plying his/her trade with a dedication that is self-willed and self-motivated, then he/she is in effect giving. And since he/she is giving out of his/her free will, the receiver is indebted to feel gratitude.

Aquinas drives home another important point, “A poor man is certainly not ungrateful if he does what he can. For since kindness depends on the heart rather than the deed, so too gratitude depends chiefly on the heart.” We are all poor in our own ways and limitations, so in this sense repayment is rendered incalculable and not entirely necessary. And the feeling of gratitude is the main repayment and indeed if the giver were giving out of his/her free will for the pure good of it, then the feeling of "having done a good" should suffice for the giver. This reminds me of the time when I rescued those two dogs from certain doom on the roads and the owner did not thank me at all.

Let's top off this short analysis with this powerful phrase by Aquinas, “As in injustice…we consider equality of things, so in gratitude we consider equality of wills."

2. Gnostic Philosophy: Parallels and points

Moving on...


Gnosis always bore within it these twin moods, first of pessimism regarding humankind's life in bondage to fate and to time and space and second with optimism to humankind's special place and potential in the full scheme of things.

Pleroma had been wounded by the dynamism of its inner tension and that humankind's existential woe was simply a by-product of the divine drama. However, humans could, through gnosis, participate in its healing.

Here, we see the dualism of man, expressed in his pessimistic daily interactions and engagement with the social construct of reality and 1st level pains.

The inner tension and existential woe is our common experience of "Anxiety". I am not so much interested in the healing of the Pleroma. Rather being a pragmatist, I am concerned with how man can learn to see past these distractions and use rationality as a tool to enable himself to be a "free agent" and participate in the healing of mankind.

In spite of the stress on inner experience, the Sufis nevertheless enjoy a particular vision of the necessity of the outward law. They regard the law as the vehicle or expression of the inner truth. While outward conforming, they enjoy inward freedom. This view has caused external problems for Sufis. The inward life tends to overflow in ecstasy- and ecstasy and law do not make easy partners.

This is poignant. How then should a free agent act? Given that he still has to operate within a social reality that which of course is a construct but remains very real. Laws largely operate so as to support or allows mankind to conduct themselves in civic manner without truly grasping the idea of real truth and self. So laws do have their purpose and use. The free agent should then aspire to guide others to see and realize their real selves and real truth whilst operating within the laws of whatever social reality that they find themselves bound in. As Rorty even agreed, "The task of the intellectual, with respect to social justice, is not to provide refinements of social theory, but to sensitize us to the suffering of others, and refine, deepen and expand our ability to identify with others, to think of others as like ourselves in morally relevant ways."

1. Gnostic Philosophy: Lessons and Parallels

Philo calls the LOGOS the "Idea of ideas". Thus the Logos is called the "Second God" and even "the man of God". The Logos is the high priest who intercedes with God on behalf of frail mortals.

This is a close parallel to my conceptualisation of man using philosophy ("idea of ideas") to get closer to the Truth (Which God is in essence).

He referred readers to Plato's ecstatic side, when the soul remembers its primal dance among ideas. This mystical ecstasy is like being "on fire".

This is the moment when Man exercises his rationality, pulls away from his ego and indulges in philosophy so as to escape the "anxiety". This is when Man is at his basal nature, when he is primal or purely man.

The stone that falls from the heavens winnows the one on whom it falls. This seperating process is what Jesus on numerous occasions claimed to be his essential purpose.

This winnowing process advocated by Jesus is similar to Man learning to seperate their ego from their real human self. And the stone that falls is rationality which will enable the process.

The righteous sacrifice is neither bird nor beast, neither man nor money, but self-(ego) sacrifice. Surrender the image; return to the real. Thus to know Jesus, the archetypal Son of Man, is to know the true God: It is to know thyself.

It is interesting that the term "ego" is used here as well. By surrendering the image, Man must first realise that the world they are engaged in is a social construct and that they must return to the real world: where we are all equally man.
Then we will then be on our way to know ourselves and in turn know truth (God).

Paul is also aware that this gift (gnosis of God) is not available to all- and that in its fullness it is not available to himself.

The ability to see past the social reality and 1st level pains is not available to all. And like St Paul rightfully put it, the road of philosophy is never-ending.