Before I enter the debate, some definitions are in order. The solar culmination time is when the Sun is highest in the sky at your location. Clock time refers to what time the clocks say it is. For example, 1200 clock time is twelve o’clock pm (12:00 PM). Solar time is a timekeeping convention based on the Sun’s position in the sky such that 1200 clock time coincides with the solar culmination. Standard time is a timekeeping convention where we take solar time and standardize it across large regions called time zones, assigning them a common clock time. Daylight saving time is another timekeeping convention in which clocks are advanced one hour relative to the applicable standard time. Within DST, the Sun is highest at roughly 1300 clock time. Seasonal time is the timekeeping convention in which both standard time and DST are observed during different parts of the year.

Standard time and DST are both arbitrary, as we might choose any clock time to coincide with the solar culmination. Within standard time, the Sun is highest at roughly 1200 clock time, as opposed to 1300 within DST. Since seasonal time is a combination of these two conventions, it is also arbitrary.

The overall balance of the evidence does not convincingly point to any one timekeeping convention as being practically preferable. However, the clock changes within seasonal time are clearly a practical inconvenience over standard time and DST. Seasonal time is also clearly more complex than standard time and DST. These are the only apparent value orderings on balance among the conventions, and according to both, seasonal time is inferior. Therefore, we should observe either standard time or DST. Which one does not matter; either one is an improvement over seasonal time.