Reading: Smith, Nicholas J. J.. "Bananas Enough for Time Travel?". The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Vol. 48, Issue 3 (September 1997): 363–389. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/48.3.363
In the eighth meeting, the reading was presented by Alon Burstein. It presented another discussion regarding possibilities and probabilities, and additional time travel paradoxes, such as the Missile Paradox. The missile is designed to be launched if its sensors detect that same missile being launched from the future. Given it is launched, what prompts the action?
We discussed the perception of time as linear; if you can go back to a place in space, why not a place in time? The paper objects to the existence of Time Travel; it claims it is not impossible, but improbable – because it already happened. As a counter-argument, Alon brought up Thomas Kunn and the problem of induction. Additionally, it is difficult to claim time travel is improbable, when you cannot calculate its probability. There are also Black Swen events. One of the participants argued all of history is full to the brim with extraordinary series of coincidences.
For the "second time around" fallacy, the author claims there are no second chances – because everything already happened. This led to a discussion regarding the deterministic viewpoint presented in the paper, specifically regarding Free Will. If the path is set in stone, are we all merely cogs in the machine, that affect one another, but merely go through the motions? Are there no options, just a dictated linear path?
As we discussed if one can change the past, one of the participants gave an example as to how such a thing is possible, to an extent. King Richard II of England, that lived in the 14th century, revised the history books to tell the stories that he wished to tell and fit his political agenda, painting previous monarchs in a positive or negative light. When you change the history books – you are literally rewriting history. In a wider context, propaganda is a way to change the past. Another participant argued, however, that while the King changed the written history, he didn't change what actually, objectively happened. We wondered if this matters, and can this objective reality can be weighed against our current knowledge of the time. It was also said that there is no way to know what happened, as a post-modernist approach.
A different discussion was around Israel and the political choices that were made throughout the years. It was claimed that Sinai was once Israel, and the "reverted back" into not being Israel. As a counter-argument, it was said this is not quite the same, at this is a change at political entities and their borders. In response, the group member said they meant this as a practice of "what if" scenarios – with Israel making different decisions along the way, or getting different reactions from those Israel interacted with.
Following previous discussions on the possible psychological effects of time travel, one participant mentioned Déjà vu, and how experiencing it makes them feel uncomfortable and disjointed. We discussed how different sensory experiences connects us through time, such as sensory instincts, a strong response to hospital smells, and about trauma and possible triggers. We discussed the mental state of one when they claim something "takes them back" – as a visitor in a mental landscape.
As is common, "Dr. Who" was brought-up – in the episode "Turn Left" (Season 4, Episode 11), which discusses choices and their impact.