Exploring the Philosophy of Time in Literature

Aminu Bakori Mohammed

Commercial Law Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the multifaceted philosophy of time as represented and manipulated in literature. Time, a central philosophical and metaphysical concept, transcends its scientific definitions to become a profound narrative force within literary forms. Literature does not merely recount events but structures temporal experience, inviting readers to engage with past, present, and future as thematic and structural devices. From ancient philosophical inquiries to modern narrative theories, time in literature appears both as a reflective concept and an experiential phenomenon. The study examines historical, cultural, and narrative interpretations of time, with a focus on temporal distortions, memory, existential temporality, and technological influence. Drawing on theorists such as Paul Ricoeur, Aristotle, and Bergson, and referencing genres from poetry to fiction, the discussion emphasizes how literature uniquely dramatizes time through plot, memory, symbolism, and narrative rhythm. Ultimately, literature becomes both a “tale about time” and a “tale of time,” enriching our philosophical and emotional understanding of temporality.

Keywords: Philosophy of time, Narrative temporality, Paul Ricoeur, Time in fiction, Time in poetry, Existentialism and time, Cultural temporality.

CITE AS Aminu Bakori Mohammed (2025). Exploring the Philosophy of Time in Literature. IDOSR JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES 11(3):48-52. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAH/2025/1134852