From spatial perspective to temporal?

That time is relative – how it feels depends on the point of view of the observer – may be self-evident to us. It is, however, a fairly new idea and one that marks the change from medieval worldview, where the present was the only observation point, to modern. But it’s curiously poorly understood how such a tremendous change took place. Many theories have been proposed, but none of them seems entirely satisfactory to me.

One fascinating explanation is given by Wolfgang von Leyden in his article History and the Concept of Relative Time (1963). He suggests that changes in the concept of time happened simultaneously with – or as a consequence of – changes in how space was understood. Perspective, the visual representation of the idea that objects seem different depending on where one observes them from, was introduced in painting at the end of the 15th century. Until then, hierarchy had dominated the composition. According to von Leyden, this spatial perspective led to a temporal one. People began to understand that time, too, could be observed from different points of view.

In the spatial concept of time, the difference between past and present is measured by distance, not by change. Change between two observation points isn’t perceived mostly because it isn’t expected. Change happened so slowly in medieval culture that things seemed to stay the same, and in oral culture, stories evolved to suit the present so that differences disappeared. Moreover, change was seen as evil so it was resisted. When differences were noticed, they were explained as coming from a different place, not different time.

Past and present occupied the same space. Past was distant, but essentially the same than the present. Therefore, the past could be used as advice to the present and a guide to the future, a practice that endured until the late 17th century. But it wasn’t until at the end of the 18th century that the first temporal utopia, where the difference is caused by time instead of distance, was written. This would indicate that the spatial concept of time was very resilient.

I think that von Leyden’s idea is plausible. Spatial and temporal relativity both require similar adjustment of perception. It gives rise to quite a number of questions though. Did the relative concept of time first emerge in Italy where the spatial perspective was introduced? How did it spread, independently or along other theoretical innovations? For example, van Eyck couldn’t produce proper perspective in his paintings because he didn’t understand the mathematics behind it. Was a similar theoretical understanding necessary for  the understanding temporal perspective? Did the ideas of spatial and temporal perspectives spread separately once conceived? Or was temporal perspective conceived in an entirely different setting where perhaps other contributing factors were in place too?

These are all fascinating questions. As it is, von Leyden’s idea alone isn’t enough to explain the change, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Pietro Perugino: Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter, 

Sistine Chapel (1481–82).

Source:

von Leyden, Wolfgang: History and the Concept of Relative Time. History and Theory, Vol. 2, No. 3. (1963), 263-285.