World History
In theory, time travel is possible. Of course, we currently do not know how to do it. If we do, the knowledge is being hidden. And if time travelers from the future (or past) are visiting, they are not talking about it.
Despite this, I still got into an interesting argument with my wife Kate yesterday about marriage, time travel, and sexual fidelity in marriage. If a married person could travel in time to the distant past or distant future with the intent and ability to return to the present, and during this travel had sex with someone from these time periods, would it be cheating? Could it be classified as an affair?
Here is what I am thinking on this. When you get married, you promise to be true until death do you part. If you travel into the future after your spouse is dead, death has parted you. Also, if you go back in time to long before your spouse was born; the marriage has yet to take place. In either case, by definition, no adultery has happened.
My wife views this differently. Regardless of what time period you travel to past or future, you still are married. If you can and will return to the present time, the vows of marriage apply. It does not matter if your spouse has been born yet or has died already, the act of time travel does not negate any of the rules of marriage.
I realize this is a strange post for this history blog. I also realize it is an academic topic as the vast majority of people will never travel in time. However, it is an interesting topic and one I had not thought of until recently.
Any thoughts from the readers of this blog? Drop a comment if you have a view on this.
- Mary Tudor (mary Of France)
Mary Tudor was born in 1496, nine years after her father, Henry VII, had become king of England by defeating Richard III at Bosworth in 1485. Mary Tudor is often confused with Mary I, who was queen of England from 1553 to 1558, and with Mary, Queen of...
- Returning To The History Blogosphere
Last Thursday night, I received word my father-in-law was in the hospital. The next day, he was dead. It was sudden, shocking, and very devastating. After travel for the funeral and to be with family, I am finally back home. During this time away, I only...
- World History Blog On Hiatus Until 9 April 2007
I will be travelling extensively over the next few weeks. Some of the travel will be fun, some will not. My Web access is likely to be spotty. Taking this into account, I have decided to put this blog on the shelf for a few weeks. Unless something bad...
- John Titor, Fake Time Traveller
In 2000/2001, someone claiming to be a time traveller began posting to several message forums on the Web. The poster went by the name of John Titor and claimed to be a time traveller from the year 2036. He posted numerous times and made a variety of claims...
- Sumir-history
sumir-history. This is a thoughtful history blog by Sumir Sharma. The author has left several comments here in the past and has quoted me several times at his blog. The note on the top of the blog relates, "Postings Relating to Methodology in History,...
World History
Time Travel and Fidelity
In theory, time travel is possible. Of course, we currently do not know how to do it. If we do, the knowledge is being hidden. And if time travelers from the future (or past) are visiting, they are not talking about it.
Despite this, I still got into an interesting argument with my wife Kate yesterday about marriage, time travel, and sexual fidelity in marriage. If a married person could travel in time to the distant past or distant future with the intent and ability to return to the present, and during this travel had sex with someone from these time periods, would it be cheating? Could it be classified as an affair?
Here is what I am thinking on this. When you get married, you promise to be true until death do you part. If you travel into the future after your spouse is dead, death has parted you. Also, if you go back in time to long before your spouse was born; the marriage has yet to take place. In either case, by definition, no adultery has happened.
My wife views this differently. Regardless of what time period you travel to past or future, you still are married. If you can and will return to the present time, the vows of marriage apply. It does not matter if your spouse has been born yet or has died already, the act of time travel does not negate any of the rules of marriage.
I realize this is a strange post for this history blog. I also realize it is an academic topic as the vast majority of people will never travel in time. However, it is an interesting topic and one I had not thought of until recently.
Any thoughts from the readers of this blog? Drop a comment if you have a view on this.
- Mary Tudor (mary Of France)
Mary Tudor was born in 1496, nine years after her father, Henry VII, had become king of England by defeating Richard III at Bosworth in 1485. Mary Tudor is often confused with Mary I, who was queen of England from 1553 to 1558, and with Mary, Queen of...
- Returning To The History Blogosphere
Last Thursday night, I received word my father-in-law was in the hospital. The next day, he was dead. It was sudden, shocking, and very devastating. After travel for the funeral and to be with family, I am finally back home. During this time away, I only...
- World History Blog On Hiatus Until 9 April 2007
I will be travelling extensively over the next few weeks. Some of the travel will be fun, some will not. My Web access is likely to be spotty. Taking this into account, I have decided to put this blog on the shelf for a few weeks. Unless something bad...
- John Titor, Fake Time Traveller
In 2000/2001, someone claiming to be a time traveller began posting to several message forums on the Web. The poster went by the name of John Titor and claimed to be a time traveller from the year 2036. He posted numerous times and made a variety of claims...
- Sumir-history
sumir-history. This is a thoughtful history blog by Sumir Sharma. The author has left several comments here in the past and has quoted me several times at his blog. The note on the top of the blog relates, "Postings Relating to Methodology in History,...