Bending the time of dying Towards an operational theory of the experiential field at the end of life
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Abstract
At the end of life, the reduction of time to its chronological dimension represents both a clinical and ethical limitation. This paper proposes a conceptual reformulation based on the distinction between biological duration and the structure of experienced time. Through a controlled analogy with General Relativity, the concept of the "experiential field of dying" and the "curvature" induced by the "mass of care" is introduced. It is argued that palliative intervention, while not altering prognosis, can impact the phenomenological configuration of time, making it more coherent and habitable. This leads to operational implications for clinical practice and a redefinition of caregiving responsibility.
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