Non-binary temporality is the concept that time can be experienced differently from person to person based on their cultural and social backgrounds. It has become increasingly important for scholars to consider how people perceive and make sense of time in order to better understand human development and identity formation. Traditionally, linear and cyclical models have been used to describe the passage of time, but more recently, these paradigms are being questioned due to evidence suggesting that people experience time in non-linear ways. This essay will explore how non-binary temporality challenges teleological models of personal development, identity formation, and narrative coherence through examples drawn from anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, literature, and history.
Non-Linear Temporality Challenges Teleological Models
Traditional teleological approaches assume that there is an end goal or purpose to life, which guides individuals towards personal growth and self-actualization. In other words, people strive to improve themselves through their actions and decisions in order to reach a predetermined endpoint.
This model relies heavily on a linear understanding of time where past events lead to present circumstances leading to future outcomes. People who experience time in non-linear ways may challenge this perspective by disrupting any preconceived notion of progress.
A person may live in the present moment and focus on making the most of each day without worrying about long-term goals. This can make it difficult to identify meaningful milestones in one's life or track progress over time.
Non-linear temporal experiences can also challenge traditional ideas around causation. If time is experienced as circular or cyclical, then cause and effect relationships become less straightforward. People may see connections between seemingly unrelated events, such as recurring dreams or déjà vu moments, and interpret them as signs that they have already lived through a particular experience before. This can create confusion when trying to trace the source of personal problems back to their origins.
Narrative Coherence
Non-binary temporality also challenges narrative coherence, as people may struggle to organize their lives into a clear storyline. Storytelling is often used as a way for humans to make sense of their lives and find meaning in their experiences. If time is experienced differently from person to person, then it becomes more difficult to construct a narrative arc that spans across multiple stages of development. Some people may see their lives as a series of disconnected episodes with no apparent thread holding them together, while others may view their stories as highly intertwined and complex.
Non-linear temporality complicates our ability to predict future outcomes based on past experiences. If there are no clear patterns or trends in one's life, then it becomes harder to anticipate what will happen next. This can lead to anxiety and uncertainty when making important decisions about careers, relationships, and other major life choices. In some cases, this uncertainty may be embraced as a liberating force that allows individuals to experiment and try new things without fear of failure.
Identity Formation
Non-linear temporalities challenge traditional notions of identity formation. People usually develop their identities over time by assimilating cultural values and beliefs that shape how they perceive themselves in relation to others.
If time is experienced non-linearly, then this process may become fragmented and inconsistent.
Someone may feel like they have always been the same person throughout their life but also recognize moments where they felt completely different. This can create confusion around questions such as "who am I?" and "where do my beliefs come from?".
Non-binary temporality challenges teleological models of self-improvement by questioning whether we can ever truly change who we are at our core. If time is cyclical or circular, then we may never escape certain aspects of ourselves that recur repeatedly. On the other hand, people may see these repetitions as opportunities for growth and transformation rather than limitations on personal development.
Non-binary temporality challenges teleological models of personal development, identity formation, and narrative coherence by disrupting linear notions of cause and effect, making it difficult to construct clear stories of one's life, and complicating issues of identity and personal growth. While these ideas can be disorienting, they also offer an opportunity to reconsider our assumptions about time and explore alternative ways of understanding human experience.
How does non-binary temporality challenge teleological models of personal development, identity formation, and narrative coherence?
In many traditional cultures, time is viewed as a linear progression from past to present to future, with each moment leading logically to the next. This linear model can be seen as teleological, meaning it assumes that there is an underlying purpose or goal for life and individuals are expected to work towards achieving it.