The relationship between the development of the concept of time in children and the conceptualization of time in Hellenistic philosophy

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 1 - 16

Feride Durna , Judit Sabido Codina Ahmet Şimşek

https://doi.org/10.17497/tuhed.1551619

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the age-related development of the concept of time in children and the temporal representations of the figures Aion, Kairos, and Kronos, the gods of time in ancient Greek mythology. The concept of time does not emerge spontaneously in individuals. It appears and takes shape depending on the culture in every society. Although the child's learning process about time begins within the family and continues systematically at school, it is shaped by its function in the daily life of society. In this study, the representation of time through Aion, Kairos, and Kronos is first explained. Then, the developmental characteristics of the general and historical concept of time in children are identified based on the literature. Following this, an attempt is made to establish a connection between the developmental status of the historical concept of time that emerges with age in children and the characteristics of the Greek mythological gods of time. In conclusion, it is observed that the Hellenistic understanding of time involves three distinct representations of time and their interactions, emphasizing subjective time perception, and offering a broader awareness that transcends temporal boundaries. This study, which addresses the various structures of the concept of time and their effects on individual and collective memory, suggests that the diversity of Hellenistic concepts of time challenges the modern linear understanding of time. In this context, a perspective on how time is experienced in different cultures emerges through a comparative examination of ancient and modern understandings of time. It is expected that this will provide a foundation for new studies on the consciousness of time. It can be proposed that the perception of time in Hellenistic philosophy may enrich time management approaches across various disciplines by introducing a new dimension to modern thought structures.

Keywords

The concept of time, Mythological Time, History Education

Ethical Statement

The study is based on a literature review followed by a relational discussion, it does not require approval from an ethics committee.

Çocuklarda zaman kavramının gelişimiyle Helenistik felsefedeki zaman kavramsallaştırılması arasındaki ilişki

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, modern araştırmalara göre çocuklarda yaşa bağlı gerçekleşen zaman kavramının gelişim özellikleriyle Antik Yunan mitolojisinin zamana ilişkin tanrıları olarak kabul edilen Aion, Kairos ve Kronos’un zamansal temsilleri arasındaki ilişkiyi irdelemektir. Bilindiği gibi zaman kavramı bireylerde kendiliğinden ortaya çıkmaz, her toplumda kültüre bağlı olarak belirir ve biçimlenir. Çocuğun ailede başlayan zaman kavramına ilişkin öğrenme süreci, okulda sistemli biçimde sürse de toplumun gündelik yaşamındaki işlevine göre şekillenir. Her ne kadar modern dünya işleyişini katı bir zaman bilinci üzerine kursa da zaman algısı toplumsal ve kültürel temelli olarak çeşitlenir. Antik Yunan mitolojisinden Helenizm düşüncesine geçen değerler arasında üç farklı tanrı üzerinden zaman temsili de vardır. Bu üç tanrının, zamanın farklı yönlerini ve farklı işlevlerini temsil ettiği kabul edilir. Buradan kaynaklandığı düşünülen Helenistik düşüncedeki zaman kavramı, yalnızca fiziksel bir süreklilik değil, aynı zamanda bir bilinç ve varoluş sorunu olarak da görülür. Bu çalışmada önce Antik Yunan mitolojisinde zamanın temsili, Aion, Kairos ve Kronos üzerinden açıklanmıştır. Daha sonra çocuklarda genel ve tarihsel zaman kavramının gelişimsel özellikleri literatürden hareketle belirlenmiştir. Sonrasında ise çocukta yaşa bağlı ortaya çıkan tarihsel zaman kavramının gelişimsel durumu ile Yunan mitolojisinin zaman tanrılarının özellikleri arasında bir bağ kurulmaya çalışılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, Helenistik zaman anlayışının, üç farklı biçimde zaman temsilini ve bunların etkileşimini içerdiği, öznel zaman algısını vurguladığı ve bu durumun zamansal sınırların ötesinde geniş bir farkındalık sunduğu görülmüştür. Zaman kavramının farklı yapıları ve bunların bireysel ve kolektif hafıza üzerindeki etkilerini ele alan bu çalışmanın, Helenistik zaman kavramlarının birey ve toplum üzerindeki etkilerini anlamada yeni bir perspektif sunduğu düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

Zaman kavramı, Mitolojik Zaman, Tarih Eğitimi

Ethical Statement

The study is based on a literature review followed by a relational discussion, it does not require approval from an ethics committee.

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