I have heard and read that by warping space, one can theoretically travel back in time. I apologise if my arguments aren't particularly eloquent (and if they are misinformed, please correct me).
So let's hypothesize that a device that allowed someone to travel back in time was created today (Day 1, let's call it). And tomorrow (Day 2) it was used to send a scientist back to today (Day 1). And let's, for the sake of this argument, agree that the scientist HAS travelled back in time (he has Day 2's newspapers or something, that turn out to be correct. In other words, he's not a hoaxer).
Does that mean that I and everything around me that was existing on Day 2 has ceased to exist? I'm assuming not.
And if not, that means I am concious at 2 separate points in time, therefore which point is real? Because, had no scientist turned up on Day 1, I would've said Day 1. But I now know that tomorrow is already happening? This brings up a whole load of other questions, like did and will tomorrow always exist?
Furthermore, presumably on Day 1 (when the device was created) the scientist didn't exist near me because he hadn't yet time travelled. However, on the Day 1 when he HAD time travelled then he was near me...therefore, has he changed history? And by talking to him and helping him, am I also changing history? Consequently, will Day 2 after the time travel, be different to Day 2 when he hadn't? If so, which one is real? Or are there several realities?
I'm sure I've just rambled on making a fundamental error but I'd be grateful to anyone who has anything that can help me/that they want to add.
(Thinking about it, seeing as this is all hypothetical and philosophical maybe there aren't any definitive answers).
So let's hypothesize that a device that allowed someone to travel back in time was created today (Day 1, let's call it). And tomorrow (Day 2) it was used to send a scientist back to today (Day 1). And let's, for the sake of this argument, agree that the scientist HAS travelled back in time (he has Day 2's newspapers or something, that turn out to be correct. In other words, he's not a hoaxer).
Does that mean that I and everything around me that was existing on Day 2 has ceased to exist? I'm assuming not.
And if not, that means I am concious at 2 separate points in time, therefore which point is real? Because, had no scientist turned up on Day 1, I would've said Day 1. But I now know that tomorrow is already happening? This brings up a whole load of other questions, like did and will tomorrow always exist?
Furthermore, presumably on Day 1 (when the device was created) the scientist didn't exist near me because he hadn't yet time travelled. However, on the Day 1 when he HAD time travelled then he was near me...therefore, has he changed history? And by talking to him and helping him, am I also changing history? Consequently, will Day 2 after the time travel, be different to Day 2 when he hadn't? If so, which one is real? Or are there several realities?
I'm sure I've just rambled on making a fundamental error but I'd be grateful to anyone who has anything that can help me/that they want to add.
(Thinking about it, seeing as this is all hypothetical and philosophical maybe there aren't any definitive answers).
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I think it's been decided that it doesn't exist.
It doesn't really work because time isn't a 'state' as such... it is just a tool that we use to accurately define when the sun sets and rises. Therefore we always think of time travel in a Back to the Future kind of way (the way that would be awesome!) like a clock just going backwards.
It doesn't really work because time isn't a 'state' as such... it is just a tool that we use to accurately define when the sun sets and rises. Therefore we always think of time travel in a Back to the Future kind of way (the way that would be awesome!) like a clock just going backwards.
keywords: possible,what,If,Travel,Time,is,reality,If Time Travel is possible, what is reality