Ethics is an essential aspect of human existence because it determines how individuals behave towards themselves and others in their surroundings. Ethical dilemmas arise due to many factors that may vary from person to person or culture to culture. One of these factors is temporal awareness, which refers to how people perceive time and relate to it accordingly. Non-binary temporality is a concept that explains how humans experience time differently depending on their experiences, beliefs, values, and culture. The author will explore how non-binary temporality influences ethical decision-making about identity and authenticity in this paper.
Temporal awareness
Humans have experienced time for ages, and it has been a determinant factor in every aspect of life. From birth until death, people engage in activities and events whose duration and frequency depend on their temporal perception.
Some people live for today without thinking about tomorrow while others plan long-term projects like building houses, saving money, or taking careers. Similarly, temporal awareness also affects one's behavior in relationships, especially when deciding whether to disclose certain information or hide secrets.
Non-binary temporality
Non-binary temporality acknowledges that humans do not exist in a linear time but rather view time as multidimensional, with different dimensions influencing the individual. Thus, each person relates to time differently depending on their unique attributes and background. Some people may be present-oriented, meaning they focus more on what is happening around them now than what happened before or will happen later. Others might be future-oriented, focusing on what is coming after today and preparing themselves mentally and financially. Still, there are those who focus on the past, seeking ways to relive old times or learn from previous mistakes.
Influence on ethics
Ethics is crucial because it determines right from wrong conduct and ensures individuals act accordingly towards others.
Non-binary temporality can influence how individuals make these decisions due to differences in temporal awareness. Present-oriented individuals may struggle with making choices since they cannot visualize the future impact of their actions. Therefore, they may make unethical decisions based on short-term gains such as winning arguments or avoiding conflicts. Future-oriented persons, on the other hand, tend to be careful about how they relate to others since they realize the long-term consequences of their actions. They may make difficult decisions to preserve the integrity of their reputation and protect their loved ones.
Past-oriented individuals may overthink some situations, leading to indecisiveness or making poor judgments when trying to repeat the past.
Identity
Non-binary temporality also influences identity by affecting how individuals perceive their roles in society.
A person who lives for today may not see beyond tomorrow and thus struggle to plan for the future. As such, they may have problems establishing an identity that suits their goals and aspirations. This can lead them into bad relationships, careers, and financial statuses due to lack of vision and planning. On the other hand, future-oriented people often have strong identities because they know where they are going and what they want to achieve. Since they view time linearly, they can easily plan and work towards specific objectives. Past-oriented individuals may develop an identity through reflection and self-introspection after experiencing failures or successes.
Authenticity
Authenticity is essential in human interactions because it determines how individuals behave around others genuinely without pretending to be someone else. Non-binary temporality can influence authenticity in many ways depending on individual perceptions. Present-oriented people may find it hard to be authentic as they focus more on the present rather than thinking ahead or reflecting on the past. Consequently, they may act differently from one day to another, creating confusion and doubts among those around them. Future-oriented persons may be too focused on the next step, which makes them forget about current needs and preferences of people around them. They might be good at setting long-term goals but cannot relate well with friends and family members.
Past-oriented individuals tend to relive old times by reminiscing about events they were part of. Thus, they may struggle to adapt to new situations and compromise accordingly.
Non-binary temporality influences ethical decision-making about identity and authenticity because individuals perceive time differently based on their experiences and values. While some people live for today, others dream of tomorrow; hence, each person has a unique way of relating to themselves and others. This paper provides insights into temporal awareness and its impact on ethics, identity, and authenticity.
In what ways does non-binary temporality influence ethical decision-making about identity and authenticity?
Non-binary temporality refers to a shift away from traditional linear time and towards more fluid and dynamic conceptions of time that recognize multiple temporalities simultaneously. This shift has significant implications for how we understand identity and authenticity, as it challenges our assumptions about the fixed nature of both concepts.