"Non-binary temporality is a concept that challenges the traditional understanding of time as being linear and sequential. It suggests that time can be understood as multidimensional and non-hierarchical, rather than simply moving forward in one direction. This can have significant implications for how we understand our own lives and the world around us.
One way to think about non-binary temporality is to imagine it as a matrix, where different dimensions of time intersect and overlap. In this view, each dimension represents a different aspect of time - such as past, present, future, memory, dreams, expectations, emotions, physical sensation, and so on. These dimensions can move independently of each other, creating a complex tapestry of temporal experience.
You might remember an event from your childhood while simultaneously experiencing the present moment and anticipating a future event.
This non-linear approach to time has important consequences for our sense of self-development. In Western thought, development is often seen as a linear process of becoming more mature, educated, experienced, and successful. We are born, we grow up, we go through school, we get a job, we start a family, and eventually we die. But what if time doesn't work like this? What if our development is not just a matter of progressing along a single path, but involves many different facets of ourselves interacting with each other in complex ways?
Consider the idea of reincarnation, which sees the soul passing through multiple lifetimes in a cyclical fashion. Each lifetime may be experienced differently, with different lessons learned and skills acquired. Or consider the concept of multiple timelines, where parallel universes coexist side by side, with their own unique versions of history and personal identity. This suggests that we could have many potential selves, living out different lives at once.
Non-binary temporality challenges our traditional understanding of time and development, opening up new possibilities for how we understand ourselves and our place in the world. It invites us to question the assumption that there is one right way to live our lives or become 'successful', and instead encourages us to explore the multifaceted nature of our experiences."
In what sense does non-binary temporality disrupt the narrative of linear self-development embedded in Western thought?
Non-binary temporality refers to the notion that time is not necessarily linear but can exist in multiple dimensions and planes simultaneously. This concept challenges the idea of progressive development within Western thinking, which is often based on the assumption that there is a clear path from childhood to adulthood, with each stage marked by specific achievements and milestones.