Abstract
The purpose of this chapter was to gain a deeper understanding of the paradoxes surrounding time travel, and to explore how students view libraries as a source of knowledge for both the past and the future. A survey research design was adopted, and the results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 384 surveyed, the findings revealed that students occasionally use libraries for research purposes, both for exploring the past and envisioning the future. This indicates support for libraries as a viable alternative solution to the paradoxes of time travel. Although students held the belief that time travel will be possible in the future, they also expressed support for government funding of libraries, to make them more suitable for historical and futuristic research. Therefore, it is recommended that government funding be made available to libraries, with the aim of equipping them with state-of-the-art technologies that will enhance their suitability for research.
TopIntroduction
The contemporary understanding of time and causality in secular circles is rooted in the ground-breaking theory of general relativity developed by renowned theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. Einstein's theory revolutionized our perception of gravity, proposing that it is not a force that travels through space but rather a fundamental aspect of space-time itself. Through his theory, Einstein seamlessly merged the concepts of space and time into a single entity known as “space-time,” offering a comprehensive and unparalleled description of their interrelated functioning. For decades, scientists have been on a quest to explore the feasibility of time travel through the lens of general relativity. Despite numerous efforts, no tangible progress has been made, and all attempts remain confined to mathematical equations on paper, with no concrete evidence of successful time travel. In light of this, some prominent scientists have declared time travel impossible due to two crucial factors. The first is the requirement for the exotic matter - matter with negative energy - to construct a functional time machine (Curiel, 2017). Unfortunately, this type of matter starkly contrasts the positive energy that surrounds us in our daily lives, making it difficult to obtain. According to quantum physics, there is a possibility that negative matter can form in small quantities, albeit only briefly (Ford & Roman, 1995).
The second reason cited for the alleged impossibility of time travel is rooted in the paradoxes that seem to arise when contemplating such an idea. The concept of time travel appears to defy logic, and these inconsistencies take the form of time travel paradoxes (Hauser & Shoshany, 2020). To illustrate this point, let us consider the following scenario. If I were to travel back in time five minutes using my time machine and then proceed to destroy it immediately upon arriving in the past, I would no longer be able to utilize the time machine five minutes later. However, suppose I cannot use the device. In that case, I cannot travel back in time to destroy it in the first place. This creates a paradoxical situation where the machine is destroyed and not destroyed simultaneously, defying logical explanations (Shoshany, 2022). These paradoxes only further complicate the already perplexing idea of time travel.
In light of the paradoxes associated with time travel, various attempts have been made to eliminate these inconsistencies, yet none have resulted in successful time travel. This has led theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking to put forth the “chronology protection conjecture,” which postulates that time travel should be inherently impossible (Hawking, 1992). Instead of completely dismissing the idea of time travel due to these paradoxes, a different approach could be to look towards a well-established institution that has withstood the test of time and can bring the concept of time itself to us without the need for physically reversing time and space. This institution is the library, a repository of knowledge and history that has remained steadfast through countless challenges and wars. Based on this background, the chapter investigates the paradoxes of time travel and how students perceive libraries as a knowledge hub of the past and future. The aim of this chapter was to critically analyze the intricacies and conflicting concepts surrounding time travel, and to investigate how students utilize libraries as a source of knowledge for the past and future, as an alternative to time travel. To accomplish this aim, the chapter conducted a comprehensive examination of several key areas, including:
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Students' beliefs regarding the potential discovery of time travel
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The frequency of library usage by students for researching the past
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The frequency of library usage by students for exploring the future
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Students' support for funding libraries as a possible “time machine”
Key Terms in this Chapter
Space-time: Space-time is the four-dimensional continuum in which all physical events occur. It combines the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single mathematical model that describes the behavior of objects and events in the universe. Space-time is a fundamental concept in physics, especially in the theory of relativity.
Time Travel: Time travel is the hypothetical ability to move through time in a way different from the normal flow of time experienced by most people. The concept of time travel has been explored in science fiction and in theories of physics, such as general relativity.
Libraries: Libraries are institutions that collect, organize, and provide access to information resources such as books, periodicals, and other materials. They are often used for research, education, and entertainment purposes, and they can be found in many different settings, such as schools, universities, public buildings, and online. Libraries play an essential role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting lifelong learning.
Paradoxes: A paradox is a statement or situation that appears to be self-contradictory or absurd, but in reality, it may be true. Paradoxes often challenge our assumptions and expectations about how things should be, and they can be found in many areas of human inquiry, including philosophy, mathematics, and science.