It asks:
What would happen if you went back in time and killed your own grandfather before he met your grandmother?
First discussion:
While the exact origin is debated, the paradox was likely first discussed in the late 1920s. Some sources credit the 1929 novelette "Paradox" by Charles Cloukey as an early exploration of the concept. However, the first published instance of the paradox as we know it today is generally attributed to Nathaniel Schachner's short story "Ancestral Voices", published in 1933.
First grandfather paradox novums in fiction:
* "Ancestral Voices" by Nathaniel Schachner (1933): This story is considered one of the earliest examples of the grandfather paradox in fiction. It involves a man who travels back in time and interferes with his ancestor's life, potentially erasing himself from existence.
* "Future Times Three" by René Barjavel (1943): This novel also explores the paradox, featuring a protagonist who travels to the past and inadvertently causes his own non-existence.
These early works laid the foundation for countless other stories and films that have grappled with the grandfather paradox and its implications for time travel.
Additional notes:
* It's important to note that neither "Ancestral Voices" nor "Future Times Three" explicitly use the term "grandfather paradox." This term became more popular later, likely after the publication of René Barjavel's book "Le Voyageur Imprudent" in 1943.
* The grandfather paradox is a popular trope in science fiction, appearing in works like Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" and the "Back to the Future" film series.
* The paradox is not just a fictional concept. It has also been debated by philosophers and physicists, particularly after Einstein's theories of relativity suggested the possibility of time travel.
I hope this information is helpful!
