Time Talks: What Does 'Time' Mean?
When was the last time you had time to gaze out of the window and let your thoughts wander? According to philosopher Byung-Chul Han, time flies by these days and we feel compelled to fill every moment with productivity. Perhaps it is time to take a step back and reflect on what time actually is and how we experience it. What does our understanding of time tell us? During this afternoon, four young researchers from Leiden University will discuss the significance of time in astronomy, archaeology, art history and linguistics.
Programme
Dr Marcel van Daalen - Astronomy
In astronomy and cosmology, we deal with timescales ranging from millions to trillions of years. In this presentation, I compare the timescale of the universe with historical events on Earth. I will also take you on a journey through a visualisation of how our solar system will develop over the next trillion years, and our universe over the next ten trillion years.
Dr Arjan Louwen - Archaeology
In archaeology, time is the very subject we deal with. We divide time using traditional typological-chronological research, such as the study of different types of pottery, from which we have been able to deduce that the Corded Ware culture followed the Funnel Beaker culture. But we also study finds using carbon dating, whereby we can determine how long something has been dead from material that once lived. In archaeology, we also reconstruct how people experienced significant events. And we ourselves sometimes experience time pressure, in commercial fieldwork. But the greatest challenge for archaeologists when it comes to time is ‘resolution’: determining how much time was involved in something. How long did developments last? When did changes take place? And how should we interpret such a span of time?
Dr Lieke Smits - Art History
How did people in the Low Countries organise their days during the Late Middle Ages? Time was becoming increasingly measurable, and it was increasingly viewed in terms of money. Yet the best-selling book of the time, the Book of Hours, recommended setting aside time for prayer and contemplation throughout the day. In this presentation, I will show how different ideas about time coexisted in the Middle Ages, and also how those medieval ideas about time inspire today’s philosophers and artists.
Sara Petrollino - Linguistics
To be announced later.
Following their presentations, Marcel, Arjan, Lieke and Sara will answer questions and discuss the differences and similarities between the meanings of time in their respective fields. This panel discussion and Q&A will be moderated by their colleague Dr Anne Urai. Everyone is welcome. Please register!
Please note: the programme is in English. Questions may be asked in Dutch.
