Suppose I were to travel back in time and kill my biological grandfather?

Question

...before he ever met my biological grandmother. This would result in one of my parents and eventually myself from never being concieved. This would imply that I could not have travelled back in time in the first place, which in turn implies my grandfather would still be alive, and that I in fact would have been conceived - allowing me to travel back in time and kill my grandfather.

what is this called?

Answer 1

This paradox proves either that time travel will never be possible, or that there is some mechanism that prevents alteration of an existing state of affairs by time travellers.

Answer 2

That is called the Paradox Theory. You explained the hypothesis well.

In time travel theory it is also noted often that a person could not travel back in time to a point where the time machine had been made and originally started. Say you invented a time machine today, Dec 5, 2007 and launched a trip, you could only go forward in time. Tomorrow though, you could return to today. But you could never go back to 1297 and prevent the signing of the Magna Carta.

Answer 3

I think therefore I am, therefore I still exist. (even after killing my grandfather.) Why kill your grandfather when you could kill a parent with the same result. Is this a love thing that you have to distance yourself from the relative you kill by at least a generation so you wouldn't feel too much guilt.

Or perhaps this would give rise to a new twist in the Oedipal complex. (I cannot spell Oedipus.) My father no longer exists so now I can have my mother all to myself.

:)

Answer 4

That sure is a paradox, and did take the imagination of a Twilight Zone writer to think up. Obviously, if you were able to kill your biological grandfather back in time, you would no longer exist...nor would one of your parents (unless they were born prior to the murder--in which case, you still could exist).

Answer 5

It's called the Grandfather Paradox.

Answer 6

Or you could do like Fry did and accidentally kill your grandfather, sleep with your grandmother who then conceives your father, thus becoming your own grandfather ;)

That's Futurama by the way

Answer 7

It's the paradox theory. Ther's also a picture that exemplifies this impossibility. It's called the Penrose stairs. It leads to no where:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_stairs

.

Answer 8

The process of getting there is called methamphetamines; While some scientists would also suggest insanity, and schizophrenia.

Answer 9

Proof that time travel is not a reasonable expectation to cling to if you want to be able to deny screwing the bridesmaid prior to your wedding.

Answer 10

Too much sci-fi channel....or Back to the Future....or Terminator....or just silly.