Parallel Worlds

[poliphilo]

If it's truly the case that every time we make a major life decision we generate a parallel universe in which the alternative choice is explored then there's going to be a reality (as real/unreal as this is) in which I'm still a clergyman and presently contemplating retirement.

Is that other self as satisfied with his mid-life decision as I am? Has he made a success of the career I abandoned? Is he married or single? Is he still grinding away at parish life or has he- as I thought of doing- moved into academe? Does he have an LJ?

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Well, it's far more than that. Every possible parallel universe is generated all the time. The exact speed at which you blink generates an almost uncountable number of parallel universes, depending on how many Planck lengths your eyelid moves in an instant.

So, there are an uncountable number of yous, some of whom are satisfied with it, some of whom aren't, some of whom decided to become Buddhist monks, some of whom who were struck by lightning and died, some of whom have killed over a hundred people in random bicycle accidents...

They ALL exist.

"What-ifs" aren't worth it, because they ALL are true. If you made different decisions, you would have regretted them and been satisfied with them. They would have led to a better life, a worse life, death, life, marriage, and every other outcome.

All of them.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Phew!

I can accept that in theory- as a proposition- but it's very hard to grasp emotionally.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

It isn't possible to grasp emotionally. It is far, far bigger than the human mind can encompass.

[matrixmann]

In theory, this would be the case.
The only thing is, you won't be able to visit or put an insight into this other path due to lack of possibilities (perhaps it even is better so; how many SciFi movies have pointed out that such actions would create a paradox which would disprove the rules of life as it is?).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I understand there are cases of people who claim to have jumped from one universe to another (woken up one morning to find things subtly different) but they may be not be true...

[matrixmann]

Remember what I once said: Human brain can play many tricks on the mind. There is no need for everything to be true what people claim.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

"I reckon there's more things told than are true
And more things true than are told."

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

Well, you can watch the show and see what happens to me as I move INTO the profession mid-life. Not the same church... not even the same country... but I can't believe that the nuts and bolts basics are not pretty much the same.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It'll be fascinating.

I can identify closely with most of what you've done so far.

[tamnonlinear.livejournal.com]

The story that I like is that my past still exists somewhere. If I returned to the old apartment, there would be the past me, going to to the past job, and I could tell them what to do instead. It's a good story, and entertaining on long drives.

If all decisions generate alternate universes, then your life is being fragmented and rebuilt all the time, regardless of which choice you make- what another lifeform in a distant galaxy does is just as likely to spawn a split. What an uninhabited planet, orphaned and whirling through the void between systems, does can as well. I assume reality is like water, flowing into every available crack and space, and every possibility that can be reached is an occupied position.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like your final image. Time like water.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

If your theory is correct, mine could be, um, interesting! :o)

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

I heard that he began to solve murders on the side and ended up with his own TV show.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I missed out then...

[raakone.livejournal.com]

I've heard the theory before. That an exponentially growing number of "alternate universes" is being generated. Also, related to this, is a theory that one of them is "dominant", and it kind of relates to an idea of time paradoxes not being possible. If you were to travel back in time to kill your mother before you were born, then it would switch the "dominant" universe, but you would still exist, just when you return to the "present" it will be a different one. I also imagine being able to somehow go between these different "existances" of the universe....the name I have for it...Shrödoshifting, because in theory that experiment with a cat created at least two...or should I say at least two sets of....universes, one where the cat lives, one where the cat dies.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Shrodoshifting is good.

I suppose an infinite, eternal mind would be able to keep up with an infinite number of alternate universes, but I'd prefer to think there was some mechanism for limiting their number.