What is Time Like?

The Relation Between Self-Consciousness and Time

Abstract

In this paper I shall attempt to articulate the relation between self-consciousness and time consciousness. I shall show that the primary meaning of time entails a self-conscious being, and that time and change are related, but in an analogous way. Different forms of life are qualitatively different in that only self-conscious beings can experience the flow of time. In making this claim, I shall discuss Husserl’s distinction between pre-reflective or tacit self-awareness (inner-consciousness) and reflective self-consciousness (inner perception), and I shall show that this view is similar to Augustine’s distinction between nosse and cogitare and Aquinas’ distinction between ‘habitual’ and ‘actual’ self-knowledge. It will also be intimated that simultaneity is associated with empathy.

Published
2021-12-30
How to Cite
Sultana, M. (2021). What is Time Like? The Relation Between Self-Consciousness and Time. Forum Philosophicum, 26(2), 329-344. https://doi.org/10.35765/forphil.2021.2602.09
Section
Articles on other subjects