The Speed of Change: The Foundational Principle of Time

This paper presents a unified theory of time, proposing that time is not an independent dimension but the perceived density of change. It explains why time slows down in danger, disappears in flow states, and accelerates during adulthood as perceived change decreases. The work integrates cognitive science, phenomenology, and conceptual analysis to reveal the mechanisms behind subjective time. It offers a clear, elegant framework that connects everyday time distortions to a single underlying principle. The goal is to provide a coherent model that captures the full spectrum of human temporal experience through the speed of perceived change.