Did The Future Already Happen? - The Paradox of Time
time paradox
The concept of time is a complex and abstract idea that often feels difficult to grasp. In the video, the narrator delves into a thought-provoking question: Do our past, present, and future all exist at the same time? Are we, in some way, simultaneously watching this video, being born, and lying on our deathbeds? The surprising answer could be yes. How can this be possible? What does it mean? How does time truly work?
To help us understand, the video compares the universe to a child painting pictures on paper. Each picture represents a single moment in time, capturing everything that is happening in the universe. As new moments pass, the universe creates a new picture to replace the previous one, forming a sequence similar to a movie. In this view, the present is the only real moment, while the past is gone, and the future hasn’t arrived yet. This is how time seems to us: each moment is replaced by the next, with the past far behind and the future still to come.
However, the narrator introduces a more mind-bending idea. What if time isn’t a series of pictures in a line, but rather, all the pictures have already been drawn and stacked together? In this case, time would be a block that contains all moments, past, present, and future, and they would all exist equally, simultaneously. This challenges our perception of time, as we experience it only in the present moment.
This idea is grounded in the theory of relativity, which tells us that time and space are not separate entities, but a single, connected concept called spacetime. According to relativity, when you move through space, you also move through time. And time is relative—depending on how fast someone is moving, their perception of “now” will be different. This means that different observers experience different "nows" at the same time, making the past and future subjective and relative to the observer.
For example, imagine three alien spaceships a million light-years away. The first spaceship hovers in space and moves at the same speed as Earth, meaning that its "now" is identical to ours. With a magical internet connection, you could have a real-time conversation. The second spaceship, traveling away from us at 30 km/s, has a different perception of time, meaning its “now” is different from ours. The aliens on this spaceship could talk to your ancestors from the past. Finally, the third spaceship, moving towards Earth at 30 km/s, experiences yet another "now." The aliens aboard this ship could speak with your descendants in the future.
This presents a problem: which "now" is the real one? According to relativity, all of these different "nows" are valid and real. This leads to the conclusion that time, as we experience it, might not be a linear progression, but rather a block where the past, present, and future coexist. The universe, in this sense, is a static entity in which everything that has happened or will ever happen already exists. This is sometimes referred to as the "block universe" theory.
But there’s a twist: quantum mechanics. Unlike the predictable behavior of large objects, quantum particles behave randomly. This means that the future is not entirely set in stone. The random decay of a radioactive atom, for example, could influence the future in unpredictable ways. If quantum mechanics holds true, the future is not predetermined, and our decisions might actually influence what happens next.
Despite this uncertainty in the quantum world, the narrator explains that for each individual, the past, present, and future are still well-defined. For example, your birth will always happen before your death. So, although we can’t define an absolute "now" that applies to the entire universe, we can still make sense of time on a personal scale.
In the block universe model, time is not a frozen entity with a fixed future. Instead, it is a growing block, with new moments being created as the uncertain future solidifies into the present. This gives room for free will, as our choices contribute to shaping the future.
The video concludes by acknowledging that time is a mysterious concept, and there are many theories about its nature. Some scientists argue that time might be an illusion, while others believe it emerges from a deeper layer of reality. Whatever the true nature of time is, the narrator reminds us that it’s a great time to explore the mysteries of the universe—and maybe, just maybe, leave early enough to catch the bus.
Time as a Movie: The initial view is that time moves like frames in a movie, where only the "now" is real. As time progresses, each moment replaces the previous one.
Block Universe Theory: An alternative model suggests that the universe exists as a block, containing all moments (past, present, and future) stacked on top of each other. According to this theory, all these moments are equally real and exist at once. This means that past events and future possibilities are just as tangible as the present.
Relativity and Cosmic Democracy: The theory of relativity tells us that time and space are interconnected (spacetime). The "now" that you experience is specific to your relative motion in spacetime. For example, two people moving at different speeds will have different perceptions of "now," meaning there's no single universal present. In this sense, the universe operates with "cosmic democracy" where all observers' perceptions of "now" are valid, meaning all moments exist simultaneously.
Free Will and Quantum Uncertainty: While the block universe suggests that the future is predetermined, quantum physics introduces randomness and uncertainty at the microscopic level, where the behavior of particles is inherently unpredictable. This leads to a question of whether the future is truly written or open, with quantum events like radioactive decay showing that unpredictability might play a role.
Growing Block Universe: A more nuanced idea is that time is not entirely frozen, but rather a "growing block," where the past is fixed, and the present is constantly moving forward, creating new moments and experiences. This allows for free will and decision-making, despite the underlying block universe structure.
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