The elusive nature of Now | Rupert Sheldrake, Timothy Morton, Joanna Kavenna

Quick Overview

Philosophers and neuroscientists argue the present moment is unattainable or an illusion, yet mystical experiences, intense sport, and physical interactions confirm that 'now' is an extended, necessary slice of time where reality occurs, contradicting the idea of an instantaneous, fixed present.

Key Points: Philosophers like Derrida claim there is no 'now' providing direct access to meaning, suggesting our descriptions are part of a shifting web limited by culture and history. Neuroscientists suggest the reality perceived in the present is an evolved hallucination for survival, while Rupert Sheldrake notes that quantum theory implies the present must be spread out in time, referencing Alfred North Whitehead's 'specious present'. Joanna Kavenna recounts the Zhuangzi fable where waking from a butterfly dream results in maximal uncertainty, implying the 'now' might be a moment of illusion rather than clarity. Rupert Sheldrake states that the present is the only time where physical interactions occur, such as light falling on skin, noting that memories and intentions relate to the past and future, respectively. Timothy Morton conceptualizes 'nowness' as the relative motion where the past and future slide over each other, differing from the 'present' which is an artificial dot on a line. Neuroscientist Libby's experiments suggest our experience of the present is delayed, as people only notice a stimulus after 500 milliseconds, but they backdate the perceived experience to when it started. Mystical experiences, meditation, psychedelic experiences, and dangerous sports like rock climbing or fast skiing generate a sense of being utterly in the present, contrasting with the mind-wandering often experienced in meditation.

Context: This discussion features writer Joanna Kavenna, scientist Rupert Sheldrake, and professor Timothy Morton exploring the elusive and often paradoxical nature of the present moment ('Now'). The conversation contrasts lived, subjective experience, which often includes mystical states or intense concentration, against the objective, mechanical measurement of time used in science and philosophy, questioning whether the present is a fixed moment of truth or an illusion constructed by consciousness.