From: schamber@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Sylvain Chamberland)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Modern THEORIES and Reality (was RE: S.O.S. signal!)
Date: 30 Sep 92 19:08:42 GMT
Followup-To: rec.arts.startrek.tech
Organization: University of Waterloo

In article <BvCG00.AGD@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> schamber@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Sylvain Chamberland) writes:
>In article <1992Sep25.154217.687@altair.selu.edu> scsd1005@altair.selu.edu (Terry Cooper) writes:
>>In article <1992Sep25.164850.15170@gdr.bath.ac.uk>, mapmh@gdr.bath.ac.uk (M Hagger) writes:
>>     [...stuff deleted]
>>
>>> Few things annoy me more than the phrase "but time travel is NOT possible,
>>> so this whole thing is irrelevant", this is like the phrase "travel faster
>>> than the speed of sound is impossible", or other similiar naive comments.
>>> I don't mean to flame anyone here, but no-one has the authority to say
>>> "it's not possible" about ANYTHING, we just don't KNOW!  For all we know
>>> Einstein could be completely wrong about relativity (after all it IS only
>>> a POSTULATE) he could be close in the sense that Newtonian physics is close,
>>> but not correct.
>>> 
>>> and if anyone even thinks about mentioning a paradox to do with travel
>>> back in time I won't answer for the consequences.......
>>> 
>>It doesn't matter how annoyed you get. You obviously do NOT
>>understand the principles involved. For example, you equate "FTL
>>travel is impossible" with "Time travel backward is impossible."
>>When we say that FTL travel is not possible, we are speaking in
>>terms of our present knowledge of the laws of the physical
>>universe. It is entirely possible that as our knowledge increases
>>we will be able to achieve FTL travel by utilizing technology
>>based on a new understanding of physics.
>>
>>New technology based on new scientific discoveries may well
>>enable us to achieve FTL travel. If that happens, there's no
>>reason to believe that causality becomes subject to violation.
>>Not so with backward time travel.
>>
>>When it comes to backward time travel, it doesn't matter how much
>>our knowledge of science increases and how much more adept at
>>technology we become. When you say that time travel is possible,
>>you're saying that you do not recognize the validity and efficacy
>>of causality. You simply cannot just dismiss causality. Nor can
>>you dismiss willy-nilly the concerns about "paradox." Such are
>>the characteristics of shallow thinkers and uninformed minds.
>>
>>    P A R A D O X   P A R A D O X   P A R A D O X   P A R A D O X
>>
>>There!  Consider it mentioned!
>>
>>    best,
>>     ...terry
>
>Sorry if I quoted all the post, but I wanted people to have the context.
>
>Sorry Terry, but to a layman in physics like me, you did not at all say
>why travel backward would be impossible.
>Now, if doing so involves physics principles and equations, then I thank
>you for not torturing us with that. :)
>
>But just consider one thing: once, human "scientists" were absolutely
>positive that Earth was plate.
>
>NO, we don't know ANYTHING for sure in science. You cannot
>dismiss any fantasy on the basis of actual THEORIES. Correct me if I'm
>wrong, but nobody knows for sure Einstein was right. His model seems to
>work. That's all. Nobody knows for sure it's the "pure truth".
>Nobody succeeded to prove the existence nor the inexistence of what we
>call God.
>
>Nobody can prove beyond any doubts that travel BACKWARD is impossible.
>Because actual theories about time and space are just that. THEORIES.
>In biology or in physics, we use models to try to explain the universe.
>Einstein's model seems to work. Darwin's model seems reasonably right.
>That does not mean they are pure thruth. They are MODELS.
>
>Please don't forget that.
>
>BTW I moved the thread to r.a.s.m...

Sorry, I meant to send that to r.a.s.t...


-- 
Sylvain Chamberland           INTERNET: schamber@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca   
Dept. of Biology          -----------------------------------------------------
University of Waterloo    |  "Biochimiste un jour, biochimiste toujours!"
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |                               - anonyme
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current