It is absurd in general relativity to speak of a universe in which nothing happens. — Lee Smolin

Time is described only in terms of change in the network of relationships that describes space.

There is no time apart from change. There is no such thing as a clock outside the network of changing relationships. ...one can only compare how fast one thing is happening with the rate of some other process.

We are the result of processes much more complicated than the small aspects of our lives and societies over which we have some control.