One way to understand the notion of "non-binary temporality" is that it challenges traditional linear perceptions of time. Instead, it suggests that time can be understood as an unfixed, ever-shifting reality, which may shift between past, present, and future depending on various factors such as cultural context, emotional state, physical location, psychological orientation, and more. From this perspective, time becomes less like a straight line and more like a web, where events, memories, and experiences are interconnected in multiple ways. This concept has important implications for how individuals experience personal continuity and identity.
On the one hand, non-binary temporality suggests that identity is not fixed but rather constantly shaped by interactions with others, social structures, and personal experiences. In this view, identity is fluid and dynamic, always in flux, changing over time through new encounters and relationships. At the same time, however, these changes do not erase previous identities or experiences but incorporate them into a larger sense of self.
Someone who experiences gender dysphoria might feel their body does not match their internal sense of gender, which leads to feelings of discomfort and confusion.
This person's journey towards accepting and expressing their true gender identity involves a process of transformation, which includes integrating past experiences and memories into a newly formed identity.
Philosophy offers several frameworks for understanding this process of continuous transformation, including Deleuze's concept of becoming and Foucault's notion of power/knowledge. According to Deleuze, becoming is the act of creating oneself through new experiences and relationships, while Foucault argues that knowledge is not static but evolves based on social norms and practices. Both perspectives emphasize the importance of understanding identity as an ongoing process of growth and change rather than a set of stable traits or characteristics.
Non-binary temporality challenges traditional linear views of time and offers a more nuanced understanding of identity as a process of continuous transformation. This perspective has important implications for how individuals experience personal continuity and may be useful for those seeking to understand the complexities of human existence.
In what ways does non-binary temporality influence the experience of personal continuity, and how might philosophy account for identity as a process of continuous transformation?
Temporality is an essential aspect of human existence that influences our understanding and experience of the world around us. It shapes our perception of time and provides us with a sense of direction towards the future. Non-binary temporality refers to the idea that time is not linear but rather cyclical or multi-directional. This concept challenges traditional views of time and suggests that it can be experienced in multiple ways.