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12-07-2004, 02:40 PM | #1 | ||
avocatus diaboli
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Elvish Perception of Time
In another thread, we brushed up against the subject of how Elves perceive the passage of time, especially as compared to how Men perceive it. There seemed to be some differences of opinion regarding this topic.
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12-07-2004, 02:49 PM | #2 |
the Shrike
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I think it comes down to the differentiation between the perception of time. That is, building upon what shannon said, the passage of time passes as physically the same as the time that mortal men run on, BUT the perception of time is differentiated between the mortal and immortal kindred.
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12-07-2004, 02:57 PM | #3 |
The Insufferable
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Really, I'd bet anything that Elves experience the same things, juston a longer scale.
Recently I found myself looking back and saying 'Man, 2004 is almost done already? Seems like just yesterday it was just 2003. And the whole Y2K thing seems like it was just a little while ago'. Somehow, I imagine that if I were to live for another thousand years, what's to say I wouldn't look back and say 'Man, it's 3000 already? Seems like it was just 2000 a few days ago.' In fact, I'd go so far as to say that elves don't even percieve time differently. The difference is in the way they remember past events (having much more history to recall) and the manner in which they anticipate future events (without the sense of urgency that comes from being mortal). Since experience only occurs in the present, and time proceeds equally for all entities, any different perception of time is wholly subjective.
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12-09-2004, 08:24 PM | #4 | |
avocatus diaboli
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This seems a bit like saying that everyone sees the world the same way, no matter how large or small they are. If an amoeba had eyes , it could never perceive the world around it the way we do. And I would like to see you try to prove that time proceeds equally for all entities.
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~ I have heard the languages of apocalypse and now I shall embrace the silence ~
Neil Gaiman |
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12-10-2004, 12:48 AM | #5 |
Queen of Nargothrond
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I don't think that the Elves even considered the passage of time until they met Men and especially when Men died. The Sil says that when Beor died "the Elves saw for the first time the swift waning of the lives of Men and the death of weariness that they knew not in themselves." So, the notice and effects of time came with Men to the Elves maybe.
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12-11-2004, 03:21 PM | #6 |
Tolkien-aholic
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to elves, hundreds, or even thousands of years could be like human days, even though the same amount of time is passing
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12-11-2004, 04:10 PM | #7 | |
Honourary Elitist Inklette
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Last edited by Embladyne : 12-11-2004 at 04:15 PM. |
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12-07-2004, 02:51 PM | #8 |
Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth
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My take is that the Elves percieve Time just as Men do. As Wayfarer says, immortals just have a different attitude to it. Even humans, as they grow older, see Time differently than children or adolescents do. One of my older patients told me recently that he hadn't even finished breakfast hardly before it was time for lunch. Probably something like that but exponentially different must happen to the Elves.
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