Josef Pieper, from “Leisure: The Basis of Culture” on Time:
Horizontal time refers to our ordinary, linear experience of time as a sequence of moments flowing from past to future:
- Measurable, quantifiable time.
- Associated with work, productivity, and utility
- Characterized by constant movement and busy-ness
- The realm of the “useful” and “practical”
Vertical time represents moments when we break out of the linear flow to encounter deeper dimensions of existence:
- Qualitative rather than quantitative time
- Associated with leisure, contemplation, and celebration
- Characterized by receptivity and openness
- The realm of meaning, beauty, and transcendence
See: Self-anthropology
Greg McKeown, from Essentialism on kairos(vertical time) and chronos (horizontal time):
Nonessentialists tend to be so preoccupied with past successes and failures, as well as future challenges and opportunities, that they miss the present moment. They become distracted. Unfocused. They aren’t really there.
The way of the Essentialist is to tune into the present. To experience life in kairos, not just chronos. To focus on the things that are truly important-not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now.
See: Essentialism
Discrete time transitions occur at fixed time intervals
Time is divided into distinct, separate intervals or steps, and is represented by integers (like t = 0, 1, 2, 3…). Changes happen only at specific time points. Your traditional bank account balance changes discretely.
Continuous time transitions can occur at any moment
Time is treated as a smooth, unbroken flow where variables can change at any instant, and is represented by real numbers (like t = 1.5, 2.73, etc.). Changes happen instantaneously and continuously. Oten for more physical processes(fluid flow, electrical, biology). The temperature outside changes continuously throughout the day - it doesn’t jump from 70°F to 71°F, but gradually transitions through all values in between.
See: Markov chain, Clocks