A Perception of Time

"Time passes." <-- This is quite a common pairing of words. However, it does lead one to ponder upon the implications of the statement. When people say "time passes," what do they really mean by that? What is time and how can it come to pass?

One interesting thing about the English language, or any language for that matter, is the relationship of the signifier and the signified. In such a relationship, the words of the language are the signifier and real world artifacts and experiences are those that are being signified. Thus, when we use the signifier "chair," we normally mean a piece of wood, plastic or metal that has been molded into a specific shape as to allocate space for our bodies to sit upon. The word "chair" signifies the real world object upon which we rest our rear ends. In the same respect, when we say "sun," we use it as the signifier for the medium sized, yellow star that is situated in the same galaxy as the Earth and is by far the closest star to the planet.

We must come to realize that the relationship between signifier and signified is not, in any way, constant. The association of a signifier to a reality depends on its popularity in society. For example, the insect we now have come to associate with the signifier "butterfly" was once, in antiquity, known by the signifier "flutterby." Some thing we now know to be called by a certain name may well have been signified by a completely different term in the past. As stated above, the association of a given signifier to a certain signified reality is not constant. This association can change from one generation to the next, from one society to the next, and even, from one person (of the same society) to the next.

Let us then apply the idea of the signifier and the signified to "time." Unsurprisingly, the signifier is easily the word "time" itself. However, when we come to the idea of the "signified," one cannot help but ask: what is it that time signifies?

In my opinion, time signifies a measurement just as length, width and height do. The difference, I believe lies in the scope. For me, time is a measurement of all processes, be they natural or man-made. Fifteen years, one would say, is quite the long time. But what does fifteen years in the life of a human being signify? One year signifies a certain amount of growth and change in a being. Let us return to the example of fifteen years. Let us say that the beginning of that fifteen years is not the birth of the person, but the moment of fertilization. In this case fifteen years would be the time measurement of all natural and artificial growth and changes that had occurred. Such would include the division of cells, specialization of cells, adaptation bodily functions, increased growth, puberty, and any or all other things that occurred. If we say then, two years in the life of a tree, specifying that the two years begin at germination, then that would include all processes determined after germination such as the growth of the top root, the emergence of the cotyledons, the growth of the first real leaves, the increase of height, and all other such processes that may occur.

Let us remember, however, that is this my perception of time. This is how I realize time and give it existence in the reality I perceive. Time is my signifier for a measurement of a given amount of natural and artificial processes. For others, time may be the signifier of a completely different signified. For example, there are those who consider time as the fourth dimension. There are those who considered it as a nonentity. Still, others see it merely as itself, never really considering what it signifies in reality. Time is time. To me, it is a measurement. To you, it may be completely different.