Quantum Physics 123: Monday 31 October

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor's tie is orange today. If you could see them, his boxers are wee pumpkin print, but you can't, so there. He comes into class in his usual manner. That is to say, fairly manic.]

Right. In honour of the holiday, we're going to talk about everyone's favourite scary topic: paradox. Nasty stuff, that. In the purest of dictionary terms, paradox implies a contradiction in logic. The most famous of these are the words of Epimenides of Knossos on Crete: Cretans, always liars. If Epimenides is from Crete himself, then he must be lying. But if he is, then Cretans are not liars. And round we go.

The same concept is very true in regards to time travel. Encountering and touching oneself in the past, changing history so that you don't exist, either by events or technology...these cause paradox.

The effects of causing a paradox are varied in documentation...but they are all inherently destructive. [looks somber] Most notably to the time traveller him or herself. This is not to discourage any of you from travelling in time if you get the chance--far from it. It is merely a warning that to disturb certain things can create changes in timespace and in your own history.

[His eyes are sad...this is not exactly what he meant to do with this lecture.] Even if it's for the greater good.

[regaining composure] Any questions?

Comments

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam leans forward a bit in her seat. "There's also the problem of Entropic Cascade Failure--although it's theoretical to you at this point, if you get two individuals from different universes in the same location, it can begin to rip the fabric of reality apart, a bit at a time."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Ah, this is what I was talking about a few weeks ago. So, basically, if John Crichton me was flung into some alternate universe and met John Crichton not me, it would be destructive?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam nods. "If you've got the same basic structure and can recognize yourself in your alternate self, sure--even if your personalities are completely different and you look exactly the same except for the length of your hair. The theory says that the universe can't support both of you at the same time, so it tries to do something to fix the problem."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"But what if you met someone who had met an alternate you. I mean, that's paradox still, right? But not nearly as... destructive to the fabric of space and time."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor steps in.] The issue is that here in Fandom, paradoxes seem to be piling on paradoxes. The entire place is anathema to what the rest of the universe declares correct.

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

*narrows her eyes suspiciously*

YOu SOUnd lIke mY Oldest bROther, bUt jusT beCause he KNows EveRythiNg doESn't meAn he knOWs anYthinG at All.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Believe me when I tell you, Ms Delirium, that I'm well aware of that problem... [He smiles at her, soft and sad.]

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I don't know about that. I mean, if you met someone who had met an alternate you or if, hypothetically, you had met an alternate you, you would still have their knowledge of what could be, or what might be, or what could have been. It might not destroy space and time, but it definitely changes your perception of the here and now, doesn't it?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You're telling me," Jack mutters.