Clocks, countdowns, chronology: how do we experience time?

Course Dates: 09/06/25
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Location: Online
Tutors: 
Anita Kasabova
Do we perceive time or the passage of events? Einstein famously considered time – or the distinction between past, present, and future – as an illusion. We examine subjective time or how we experience time, discussing the roles of memory, emotion, and narrative.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00

Clocks, countdowns, chronology: how do we experience time?
  • Course Code: HP206
  • Dates: 09/06/25 - 09/06/25
  • Time: 12:00 - 14:00
  • Taught: Mon, Daytime
  • Duration: 1 session
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Anita Kasabova

Course Code: HP206

Mon, day, 09 Jun - 09 Jun '25

Duration: 1 session

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

Our experience of events is organised in a temporal order we call the ‘passage’ of time. How do we experience the passage of time? We explore how philosophers and psychologists describe time. How do language, memory and emotion condition our experience of time? How is time shown in narratives? Participants are invited to share their experiences of time.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

We begin with historical views on temporal experience, from classical Greek to modern and current philosophical and psychological views. We examine concepts used to capture our experience of time: ‘change’, ‘duration’, ‘succession’ or ‘before-after’, and ‘now’. Why does time ‘speed up’ or ‘slow down? We discuss how attention, memory and emotion shape our experience of time. We also look into expressions of time in literature and the cinema.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• identify the main theories and concepts of time and temporal experience. You will be familiar with different perspectives on subjective time in the history of ideas, philosophy, psychology, and narratives.
• identify the main views on subjective time and further develop your own perspective.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

A basic knowledge of philosophical principles is an advantage, although newcomers to philosophy are most welcome. An open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you may not always agree, are more important than specific levels of skill. The tutor will use a flexible approach to meet students’ needs.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course is lecture-based, using power-point and whiteboard, but sufficient time will be made for discussion, which is an important part of the learning process. Short extracts from relevant philosophical texts will be provided for comments and class discussion. The tutor will provide feedback about progress on request. The power-points and selected materials will be available for personal study. Students are encouraged to look at the power-points in their own time and bring questions to the class. Additional reading is optional.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Your questions and an enthusiasm for discussing time and temporal experience.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please check our website at www.citylit.ac.uk for up-to-date information about forthcoming philosophy courses.

Anita Kasabova

Anita teaches and writes about philosophical topics. She has taught undergraduate and graduate students at university for many years, as well as adult learners. She uses a cross-disciplinary approach in her teaching and encourages students to examine intersections between philosophy, psychology, and other humanities subjects. She is the author of a book On Autobiographical Memory (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009), and numerous articles on topics in the history of philosophy, various aspects of memory and the role of shame in social media. She also published two poetry collections. She studied at Geneva University, has an MA in English literature, a PhD in Philosophy, and a Bulgarian national scientific habilitation in Philosophy.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.