Exploring the Paradox of Origin in Time Travel Theories
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Time Travel and Paradoxes
The theme of time travel is a prominent one in the realm of science fiction. H.G. Wells is often credited as the trailblazer of time travel narratives with his work, “The Time Machine.” However, the idea of temporal displacement had already appeared in literature prior to his contributions.
One of the most recognized paradoxes involves a time traveler who inadvertently eliminates their own grandfather. While this is a classic illustration, there exist numerous other paradoxes, and today we will delve into one specific example: the Paradox of Origin.
Section 1.1: Understanding the Ontological Paradox
Also referred to as the ontological paradox, this concept arises when an object or piece of information is sent back in time. Such an object or information must have been created at some point in the past, yet its transmission from the future raises the question of its origin. This situation culminates in a closed causal loop.
Section 1.2: A Classic Example of the Paradox
A striking depiction of the ontological paradox can be found in the popular series “Doctor Who.”
Imagine you are a time traveler who is also an admirer of Beethoven. When you travel back to the past, you find that Beethoven is not yet recognized and has composed no music. To remedy this, you transcribe his future works and present them to him, allowing him to claim them as his own. The question arises: who is the true composer of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony?
The cycle continues as the time traveler, enchanted by Beethoven’s music, decides to visit the past again, repeating the process.
The ambiguity lies in the authorship of the symphony. Beethoven cannot be deemed the sole creator since he received the music from the time traveler, yet the traveler cannot claim ownership either, as they got it from Beethoven. This creates a scenario where Beethoven's music seems to exist independently of time.
Chapter 2: Comparing Temporal Paradoxes
Unlike other temporal paradoxes, such as the notorious Hitler scenario—where a time traveler attempts to prevent World War II by eliminating a young Hitler—this paradox maintains a logical flow within its timeline.
Another illustrative scenario involves a time traveler bringing a watch he inherited from his grandfather back to the past. Upon meeting his grandfather, he realizes the watch does not exist in that time. The traveler then gifts the watch to his grandfather, setting off a chain of events that leads to a confusing loop.
Initially, this situation appears similar to that of Beethoven. However, the time traveler possesses a watch that is already a century old. Upon gifting it, the watch ages further, resulting in a scenario where he ultimately receives a watch that is now two hundred years old.
For a closed causal loop to form, the watch would need to somehow rejuvenate itself so that it remains perpetually a century old when returned to the time traveler. Such self-renewal seems to conflict with the second law of thermodynamics and the principle of causality.
Nevertheless, the apparent violations of causality and thermodynamics may not be as clear-cut as they seem. According to Russian astrophysicist I.D. Novikov, the second law is statistical rather than absolute, meaning spontaneous entropy reversal, while improbable, is not impossible. Moreover, the law applies solely to isolated systems, and the watch does not fit that description.
Thus, it's conceivable that external forces could provide the necessary energy to restore the watch, allowing it to revert to a 100-year-old state when it returns to the traveler’s time.
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