When thinking about morals, we often consider linear time - that is, the idea that everything happens one moment after another, following a clear trajectory toward some final outcome. But what if we instead considered time as cyclical, recursive, or even suspended? In this article, I will explore how embracing these concepts can open up new ways of understanding ethics and morality.
Let's start with the concept of cyclical time. In a cyclical view of time, there are no clear beginnings or ends; rather, events simply repeat themselves in an endless cycle. This can be seen in many natural phenomena, such as the rise and fall of tides, seasons, and celestial bodies. In a similar way, moral actions may also follow cycles.
Someone who commits an immoral act may eventually realize their mistake and make amends, returning to a more moral state.
We can think of time as recursive. In a recursive view of time, past events influence present ones, which then influence future ones. This means that every action has multiple effects, both immediate and long-term. Morally speaking, this can mean that our choices today have far-reaching consequences for tomorrow, while also being shaped by previous decisions.
We can see time as suspended. This means that moments exist outside of any larger framework or narrative, without clear causality or connection. In this view, ethical dilemmas become less about right and wrong answers and more about making sense of the world in all its complexity. Instead of thinking in terms of black and white, we would embrace gray areas and ambiguity.
Embracing temporality in these ways allows us to challenge traditional notions of linearity and cause and effect. By recognizing the cyclical, recursive, and suspended nature of time, we open up new possibilities for understanding morality and ethics - including the possibility that some actions may not be inherently good or bad, but simply part of a larger pattern of change and flux.
What moral possibilities arise from embracing temporality as cyclical, recursive, or suspended rather than linear?
Embracing temporality as cyclical, recursive, or suspended allows individuals to see time not as an arrow moving forward but as a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This viewpoint can offer individuals a sense of continuity and connectedness with past generations while also encouraging them to consider their impact on future generations.