Approaching Bayesian Subjectivity from a Temporal Perspective

The notion of subjectivity underscores recent Bayesian probabilistic approaches to a range of cognitive phenomena. From this perspective, estimations are subjectively derived. However, the notion of subjectivity in the Bayesian framework remains to be discussed in more detail from a philosophical and psychological perspective. Recent studies have reliably shown the importance of contextual and interactive factors regarding subjective probabilistic estimations of evidence. This shows the importance of the contextual in the present. However, the notion of the temporal has hitherto received little attention in terms of conceptualizing Bayesian subjectivity. The present paper argues that, similar to the importance of contextual and interactive factors, the temporal should be considered as an essential factor when conceptualizing subjectivity. This frames the potential for subjective estimations as a diachronic rather than a synchronic system in which multiple time scales can influence the emergence of estimations. This reflects on the foundation of subjective reasoning and points towards a fragmented cognition that is best understood when notions such as attention, the self, and subjectivity are distributed within the immersed and interactive contextual as well as across the multi-scalar temporal.