Time Travel and the Nature of Time by Eve Green

Time Travel and the Nature of Time by Eve Green

Philosophy

Backward time travel is something most people in modern society are familiar with through the presence of this form of time travel in popular culture. This paper explores the nature of backward time travel as a philosophical possibility, and investigates how this time travel functions within time different time theories. Through understanding which time theory best allows for the philosophical possibility of backward time travel, this paper also considers the impacts of this theory of time on the nature of free will, and consequently how free will functions within backward time travel. Through exploring the theories of presentism, the growing universe theory, the dropping branches theory, and eternalism, and investigating the solutions to multiple time travel paradoxes, this paper identifies the fatalistic nature of backward time travel as a philosophical possibility, and the consequent lack of free will present in a theory of time that allows for this philosophical possibility. Through exploration of time theory and the philosophical possibility of backward time travel, this paper concludes that eternalism is the time theory most compatible with this form of time travel and additionally that backward time travel does not allow for free will. This paper does not attempt to argue for the necessity of the philosophical possibility of backward time travel nor does it argue that eternalism must be true if society does not necessitate the philosophical possibility of backward time travel.

Eve Green

Senior Showcase Oral presentation

Ripon College

April 17, 2018

The author reserves all rights.

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Majors: English; Philosophy; Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies

Lane Cove, Australia

Philosophy Senior Seminar