Trans-Dimensional Ethics

[Sight Unseen]

First of, not sure whether to put this in Science/Technology, Debate, or what. Also, hopefully it doesn't sound preachy, thats not my intention. Just rambling on about what I was thinking about this morning in math class.

Many-worlds interpretation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I personally believe this theory to be true, because it is the least limited guess of what I believe one would call "Unperceived Reality". Basically, Every time a choice is made, or a random event happens, the universe explodes splits into two different almost identical universes, the only difference being the outcome of the decision or random event being opposite in the two universes, and in no way can the universes interact under normal conditions. Yes, this is Schroedinger's Cat.

Since this phenomenon has occurred since the beginning of time itself, since the instant before constants such as the speed of light were set, before the very fabric of space itself was set in shape, an almost infinite number of these different universes have formed. Each one could be almost the same or infinitely different from this one. For instance, one universe could be exactly the same, except you chose to drink tea instead of coffee this morning, and another, you could be Jake, saving the Na'vi from the RDA.

Let's just say you figured out how to make a Trans-Universal spaceship. You could jump to any of these alternate realities by connecting them together, but the connection goes both ways, and must last long enough for your very, very large ship to travel through this rip and go to the other side. There is no way to know what's on the other side of this wormhole until you go there.

And here's the big question. You have absolutely no idea what's on the other side, what you will bring back with you. Is it ethical to expose our universe to whatever may be in the other universe, just for the sake of answering the age old question of what's out there? Remember, there could be you drinking tea on the other side, unspeakable chaos, things that will haunt you for the rest of your life, a utopian society, just complete nothingness, even JC's universe. The possibilities and implications of trans-dimensional travel this are wonderful, exciting, and, sometimes, terrifying.

What would you do if you invented this technology? And what do you think will happen? Flying with the Na'vi? Event Horizon-esque evil? Nothing?

[Sempu]

How can you tell whether it is ethical to do something completely unknown? Was it ethical to climb Everest without knowing what was on the top? People wondered whether it was ethical to go to the Moon when they might bring back lunar organisms that would wipe out the human race (they really were worried about this enough to quarantine the astronauts).

[rapunzel77]

Interesting question. I believe it is neutral though. I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer to the question. Curiosity has made us explore our world and even beyond it. It all depends upon the intent of the person carrying out the exploration. We know from history that that can be terrible at times but at other times, not.

[ZenitYerkes]

Does the risk of sacrificing a whole Universe justify the need of human race to seek for answers?

Just as when people said we could wipe ourselves out with the little black holes the LHC could produce. Playing with the unknown is dangerous.

And I think I couldn't have said this better is in any other place, "curiosity killed the cat".

[Grif]

Sure it is ethical because the history never changes, you're future history has already happened.

As for these parallel universes, they are not strictly speaking parallel nor are they strictly speaking universes. It's all sort of just a mish-mash and you see part of it. Thinking of it as shining a light in the rain illuminating some of the raindrops, that's what you see.

If none of that made any sense, blame Douglas Adams.

[Boomachucka]

Originally Posted by Grif

Sure it is ethical because the history never changes, you're future history has already happened.

As for these parallel universes, they are not strictly speaking parallel nor are they strictly speaking universes. It's all sort of just a mish-mash and you see part of it. Thinking of it as shining a light in the rain illuminating some of the raindrops, that's what you see.

If none of that made any sense, blame Douglas Adams.

I understood that- That's a pretty cool visual interpretation, I like it!

I don't think it would matter what I thought about it ethically, since regardless of my decision, I would then know that I made the opposite choice in another universe!
... But, to actually answer your question, I think I would for the sake of scientific progress. I don't think it would be ethical to start sacking other dimensions for minerals though. As for what to bring back specifically, probably some sort of technology or element which we cannot reproduce.

[Sight Unseen]

Originally Posted by Boomachucka

As for what to bring back specifically, probably some sort of technology or element which we cannot reproduce.

What you bring back could be anything. It doesn't even have be physically possible. You could bring back alien life forces bent on your destruction (a-la Event Horizon), Pink Elephants, or just cease to exist altogether. Things that are things in our universe could just as well be forces in others, and vice versa. You wouldn't want to go to another universe where chaos is a physical object, and bring it back by accident, would you? (That alone could destroy the Universe...) I guess that is the worst case scenario I can think of, but in an infinite universe, there is always somethings worse.

[Boomachucka]

Originally Posted by Sight Unseen

What you bring back could be anything. It doesn't even have be physically possible. You could bring back alien life forces bent on your destruction (a-la Event Horizon), Pink Elephants, or just cease to exist altogether. Things that are things in our universe could just as well be forces in others, and vice versa. You wouldn't want to go to another universe where chaos is a physical object, and bring it back by accident, would you? (That alone could destroy the Universe...) I guess that is the worst case scenario I can think of, but in an infinite universe, there is always somethings worse.

Hmmm...

For some reason, both The Flood and Zerglings come to mind...

On the other hand, chaos being a physical object is pretty intriguing. I like the idea, that's interesting!

[Human No More]

I'd live the life I SHOULD, becoming Na'vi.

I'd guess that due to conservation of matter and energy, it would be impossible for other entities to cross just because you did (assuming the ship you mentioned is a way to overcome those problems)

Originally Posted by ZenitYerkes

Does the risk of sacrificing a whole Universe justify the need of human race to seek for answers?

Just as when people said we could wipe ourselves out with the little black holes the LHC could produce. Playing with the unknown is dangerous.

That is a fallacy perpetuated by people with a complete misunderstanding of the LHC.

[Sight Unseen]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I'd live the life I SHOULD, becoming Na'vi.

This deserves repeating. QFT.