Grandfather Paradox

Key · 07-19-2015, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

**** me if I know, but if I were to hazard a guess, if parallel universes did exist, I don't think they would be alternate timelines.

Mathematics aside, do you ever think about what it'd be like to have the possibility to look into a parallel universe and decide the fate of something that you already know is going to happen? Or to somehow change said thing from happening? That thought alone just blows my mind because even though the possibility isn't there, it's still something that if it were possible, the outcomes would be incredible.

Trollheart · 07-19-2015, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

But you're never going to act differently when either crossing or not crossing the bridge. The world is governed by mathematical laws, and unless there is magic that can introduce randomness (where one plus one can sometimes equal three) then your actions are predetermined, just like everything else. Free will is an illusion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

You just added a bridge in your universe. There was no bridge in Trollheart's. Imagine the ripple effects that will have.

Even if it was a bridge, well, no you're not going to act differently, but say it was old and crumbled? You either made it over to the other side or you didn't, and two new universes are born. Or you could meet someone if you cross the bridge that changes your life; go back and decide you forgot to lock your car and then change your mind about taking a walk over the bridge (maybe you get a call) and you never meet that person. So yeah, on the smallest things large events can turn.

The Batlord · 07-19-2015, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Even if it was a bridge, well, no you're not going to act differently, but say it was old and crumbled? You either made it over to the other side or you didn't, and two new universes are born. Or you could meet someone if you cross the bridge that changes your life; go back and decide you forgot to lock your car and then change your mind about taking a walk over the bridge (maybe you get a call) and you never meet that person. So yeah, on the smallest things large events can turn.

But it's not just going to get old and crumble for no apparent reason. It's still going to be bound by the same natural laws that govern the other bridge. It'll get old and crumble at the same rate.

Key · 07-19-2015, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

But it's not just going to get old and crumble for no apparent reason. It's still going to be bound by the same natural laws that govern the other bridge. It'll get old and crumble at the same rate.

I actually agree with you here. I don't want to get nerdy, but this is how it was explained in Bioshock Infinite:

Trollheart · 07-19-2015, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ki

Mathematics aside, do you ever think about what it'd be like to have the possibility to look into a parallel universe and decide the fate of something that you already know is going to happen? Or to somehow change said thing from happening? That thought alone just blows my mind because even though the possibility isn't there, it's still something that if it were possible, the outcomes would be incredible.

One point there: you have to be careful not to meet yourself. Unless of course you're Stewie and Brian, who met about a hundred duplicates of themselves. Two identical objects cannot share the same space/time, and if they do, look out universe!

Key · 07-19-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

One point there: you have to be careful not to meet yourself. Unless of course you're Stewie and Brian, who met about a hundred duplicates of themselves. Two identical objects cannot share the same space/time, and if they do, look out universe!

That's where another theory comes into play where you're not allowed to disrupt your own existence in a different universe because it could drastically alter your existence / terminate your existence. However, to have that kind of power would be almost unstoppable.