Or, "in an infinite universe, whatever is not impossible is inevitable".
The simple-minded Grandfather Paradox relies upon the existence of something (a paradox) that actually cannot exist in reality. A paradox is by definition impossible, just like the immovable object and the irresistible force.
There is an amusing detail with the idea of a new universe being formed when event possibilities diverge (i.e., "changing the past"). Since the sum of the universe should remain constant, the additional universe should come from somewhere.
One possible source would be time. The universe, if nothing else destroys it first, should evaporate after about 10^100 years. A new, divergent universe could get it's existence (matter, energy, et al) by reducing the total lifetime of the universe by half. In other words, you would have two universes that would evaporate after 10^100/2 years.
But, eventually, the two universes would become identical. After a sufficiently long period of time, even an event that would have a profound effect upon humanity would be forgotten. At that time, the reverse would occur: the two universes would recombine when they become identical, and the total time that the recombined universe would exist would be returned to 10^100 years.
I'm surprised that I never ran into this used as a concept for a story. Imagine, a malevolent entity, that continually changes the past, reducing the life of the divided universes by half with every change.
With that in mind, if it ever DID become possible to change the past, it would be necessary to pass a law prohibiting time travel. Time Cops would have to pursue their quarry with caution, lest they do more damage than the criminal.
-rcv-
The simple-minded Grandfather Paradox relies upon the existence of something (a paradox) that actually cannot exist in reality. A paradox is by definition impossible, just like the immovable object and the irresistible force.
There is an amusing detail with the idea of a new universe being formed when event possibilities diverge (i.e., "changing the past"). Since the sum of the universe should remain constant, the additional universe should come from somewhere.
One possible source would be time. The universe, if nothing else destroys it first, should evaporate after about 10^100 years. A new, divergent universe could get it's existence (matter, energy, et al) by reducing the total lifetime of the universe by half. In other words, you would have two universes that would evaporate after 10^100/2 years.
But, eventually, the two universes would become identical. After a sufficiently long period of time, even an event that would have a profound effect upon humanity would be forgotten. At that time, the reverse would occur: the two universes would recombine when they become identical, and the total time that the recombined universe would exist would be returned to 10^100 years.
I'm surprised that I never ran into this used as a concept for a story. Imagine, a malevolent entity, that continually changes the past, reducing the life of the divided universes by half with every change.
With that in mind, if it ever DID become possible to change the past, it would be necessary to pass a law prohibiting time travel. Time Cops would have to pursue their quarry with caution, lest they do more damage than the criminal.
-rcv-