According to Payne (2013), "If you can change the past, then it will require an act on a much larger scale than simply existing or stepping on an insect to make a difference,” is how the word continuum is treated in most popular culture where it serves as a concept of time under the name “space-time continuum.” This means that the continuum, in this case, refers to time lines and how their realities can be altered. It becomes a major plot device in the television series "The Flash", in which the drastic changes in the timeline caused by meddling with the continuum are known as the "Flashpoint Paradox" (McCabe, 2016) or in cult classic films like "Back to the Future" where the space-time continuum is a constant topic between the main characters, Doc Brown and Marty. It characterizes the space-time continuum as a natural phenomenon that has the power to alter past and present realities when tampered with (Russon, 2015). In fact, the idea that the space-time continuum is about time travel and its consequences is false. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In contrast, the true definition of the space-time continuum is related to Einstein's theory of general relativity as the curvature or platform where all things in space and time happen (Russon, 2015). If such misunderstandings already exist just because of its scientific definition, what other definitions could have been overlooked? There are other, more unusual definitions of the word continuum from three other academic disciplines, namely its lexical, mathematical, and psychological definitions. “Something that changes in “quality” gradually or in very slight stages without clear dividing points” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.). In simpler terms, a continuum is something that constantly changes starting from a certain point. Continuums can be observed in all aspects of life, as in the continuum of Philippine history, especially courtship. Filipinos are known worldwide as "chameleons" (Chua, 2018) due to the settlement of different nationalities on Philippine soil and the influence on the lifestyles of Filipinos, diluting the cultures of their past but also combining them with their culture and way of life already existing. of life (Ethnic Groups Philippines, 2016). These changes were not abrupt but were instead a gradual transformation that began with what the majority of natives decide to slowly incorporate and blend into their own practices. In the past, courtship in the Philippines was considered a taboo topic where lovers were not allowed to be seen together unless they were married (Mahusay & Romero, 2015) and were looked down upon if public displays of affection were demonstrated. According to Kevin (n.d.), this is due to the Filipino culture which believes that there are other ways in which affection can be expressed, in private, between the only two people who should be involved. The traditional Filipina would be secretive about any feelings towards a suitor and would show the utmost restraint no matter how strong her feelings were (Villanueva-Lykes, 2013). It was a customary tradition for gentlemen to seek the approval of a woman's parents before further progress occurred. As time passed, public displays of affection slowly became accepted in Philippine culture, due to interracial relationships resulting from globalization. Based on an analysis by Mahusay and Romero (2015), courtship began to revolve more around the liberalism of young Filipinos, givingthey have the freedom to express their feelings in the way they deem appropriate. It has become common to see couples hanging out together and holding hands. Approval to court a woman came from the woman herself, and the expression of feelings began to be encouraged. These changes in culture did not happen overnight, but were instead a gradual development slowly, but surely, over time. Recent years have presented new types of courtship with the advancement of technology, such as online dating (Holman, 2013). Homosexual relationships that began under the radar are now widely accepted and recognized. There is no clear divide in these transitions, but these small adjustments, when added together, create a big difference from when only men courted women who acted shy about dating on the other side of the world. It will continue to change and advance deliberately without anyone knowing where the extreme limit may be, hence a continuum. The word continuous has a more specific definition in the field of mathematics. It is “a continuous system or range of adjacent elements that do not vary from each other to any marked degree, although the endpoints of the system may vary differently” (Rouse, 2016). A continuum can be compared to a sequence to simplify the concept. According to a website called Mathigon (n.d.), a sequence is a string of objects that follow a set pattern, just like natural or counting numbers whose values differ by one. In a continuum, these objects can also be called sequence elements. In reality, the continuum represents a fundamental concept in mathematics even if many are not aware of it. According to Feferman (n.d.), “On the contrary, by a kind of miracle of synergy, [the real number system] R has been shown to serve together with the [counting numbers] natural numbers [represented by] N as one of the two core structures of mathematics; together they are the conditio sine qua non of our theme, both pure and applied". This is because the set of real numbers can be considered as a continuum. The set of all real numbers in a number line can be thought of as a continuum, since each value differs minimally and increases only in set increments, and each value corresponds one-to-one with a point on the number line. This means that a set of real numbers starts with one (1) then continues with two (2), then three (3), and so on. Another characteristic of a continuum is that its extrema, or elements opposite each other in the sequence such as positive and negative infinity have a significant difference. In a set of real numbers with an initial value of one (1), the first number has a considerable difference from positive infinity since a set of real numbers will continue to steadily increase as it goes along. One of the more unusual uses of the word continuum is when it is associated with the evolution of human characteristics and parental influences. Jean Leidloff, the creator of the word, used the continuum not only to describe the characteristics of a person, but also those of his family, clan, community and species. Human beings have certain behavior at specific stages of life. According to "Understanding The Continuum Concept" by Jean Leidloff herself, the human continuum begins as early as the early stages of childhood in regards to how a child's natural physical needs are met. This involves physical contact with the mother or having someone who responds immediately to his signals without showing any signs of judgment or displeasure in caring for him. The continuum refines a person into their true nature as it is associated with personal development while gaining new knowledge.
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