Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbatt!cbuxc!cbuxb!cbrma!aka From: aka@cbrma.UUCP (Andy Kashyap) Newsgroups: net.physics,net.sci,net.philosophy Subject: Re: A Sane Man Proposes A Time Travel Experiment Message-ID: <4863@cbrma.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Aug-86 10:28:05 EDT Article-I.D.: cbrma.4863 Posted: Thu Aug 7 10:28:05 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Aug-86 08:21:36 EDT References: <289@axiom.UUCP> <5723@lanl.ARPA> <720@riccb.UUCP> <1037@mmm.UUCP> Reply-To: aka@cbrma.UUCP (Andy Kashyap(Andy) x5292) Organization: AT&T-BL, RMAS, Columbus Lines: 38 Xref: watmath net.physics:4771 net.sci:1472 net.philosophy:6475 >In article <720@riccb.UUCP> jmc@riccb.UUCP (Jeff McQuinn ) writes: >>... So here I somehow am an hour before with no >>concept of having gotten here, and no idea of whats going to happen. Since >>my time trip unhappened I didn't do it and since I don't know I didn't do it >>I couldn't prove that I didn't (-: do it. I would expect a short circuit on >>the attempt and see no results... > In article <1037@mmm.UUCP> cipher@mmm.UUCP (Andre Guirard) writes: >But you _could_ prove it! You need a non-deterministic random-number >generator, one based on atomic decay for instance. Use this device to >generate a random number in the range 0 to 99. Then, if the number is >not 42, use your experimental time-machine to reset time to just before >the number was generated. Repeat this procedure 10,000 times. If the >time-machine works, you will observe that the random-number generator >generated the same number, 42, 10,000 times. But how would you know it did? Every time you back in time you 'erase' any previous records of anything. Is there any way to store records such that when you go back in time that you recognize the records as being left there in a previous time trip? If there is, is some logical conflicts developing. Disclaimer: This discussion of time travel rests upon the idea of 'sliding' back in one's own world-line. Arguments of time travel through time warps or worm holes (and the such) do not apply here. - andy kashyap -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ : Jim, what's the value of Pi? : Andy Kashyap : : About 3.14159. Why do you ask, Doctor? : AT&T Bell Labs : : Actually, Captain, the exact value is 3.1415926535...: Columbus OH : : Kirk & McCoy: Shut Up, Spock!!! : ..!cbosgd!cbrma!aka: +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+