That has been a vexing question to physicists for a long time. I see it as two questions. There is the sense of time in physical reality AND the sense of time in non-physical reality. WhatI think causes our confusion about how we experience time is the fact that we experience both physical and non-physical time at the sane time. That can explain the speeding up and slowing down of time that we all experience from time to time. So let us explore the dimensionality of time in both realities.
First let us define a physical space – the first three dimensions we are all familiar with. Length, width and height. That defines a physical space. In Euclidian geometry there is a postulate called the Point – Line – Plane Postulate. I defines how we can construct dimensions. You start with a point with no dimensions. You then create a line made up of an infinite number of points. That is dimension 1. You then create another similar line 90 degrees (perpendicular) from the first. You then have a plane of infinite size. That is dimension 2. Then create another line 90 degrees from the plane. You have now defined a volume of infinite size. That is dimension 3. Now take that volume and make it a point. And repeat the process. Take an infinite number of dimension 3 points to make another line. That is dimension 4. Think of each dimension 3 point as representing a fixed state in that volume. Then dimension 4 can be thought of a change in state in a volume. So now let us create another line perpendicular to dimension 4. What could that represent? What comes to my mind is with a change in state you will have both predeterministic and chance/choice influences on the outcome.so dimension 5 can represent all the possible “directions” a change in state can take. So, dimension 5 can be thought of as representing a sort of “timeline” if you will. If only predetermined outcomes where possible, it would be a straight line. Otherwise it would be a crooked or squiggly line. Now let us define another line perpendicular to the plane defined in dimension 5. What could that represent? I believe it represents the “path not taken”. When a path is taken, all the other possible paths are removed. Now dimension 6 can then represent all the possible paths that could be taken (a probability space if you will). Dimensions 4-6 can then be thought of as a “time space”. Dimensions 7-9 then represent a “starting conditions” space. Dimensions 10-12 then represent a “interaction variables” space that defines how physical and non-physical realities interact with each other.
We can proceed in a similar fashion with non-physical reality. I define non-physical reality as consisting of our thoughts and emotions. Our “inner world” if you will. So here dimensions 1-3 create a mental/emotional space. Dimension 4 then represents a change in that space. As I define in my book, we end up with 12 dimensions of physical reality and 12 dimensions of non-physical reality with dimensions 10-12 being the same in both realities.
So, now we have defined two “times”. One representing the change in state of a physical space and the other representing a change in state of our mental/emotional” space. But we experience them both at the same time. That can easily explain our subjective experiences of time. And it fits what the research shows. That is another clue that my 24 dimensions or reality view might be correct.