The Terminator - Time Travel Paradoxes
Before I get into this, I will state that I love The Terminator movie. It is one of my all time favourite Sci-Fi movies and I am not trying to destory or damage the movie in any way by analysing the paradoxes that this movie contains.
However, it's a movie about Time Travel, and all Time Travel movies seem to create paradoxes within them, so let's have a look at what paradoxes The Terminator contains.
However, it's a movie about Time Travel, and all Time Travel movies seem to create paradoxes within them, so let's have a look at what paradoxes The Terminator contains.
Bootstrap Paradoxes
All of the paradoxes that I have noticed in The Terminator are examples of a bootstrap paradox. A bootstrap paradox, also known as an information loop, is a time travel paradox where an event, information, object, or person ultimately causes itself, creating a closed loop with no discernible origin. The bootstrap paradox is used deliberately in the plot of the movie Predestination. If you haven't watched it, I recommend that you do.
All of the paradoxes that I have noticed in The Terminator are examples of a bootstrap paradox. A bootstrap paradox, also known as an information loop, is a time travel paradox where an event, information, object, or person ultimately causes itself, creating a closed loop with no discernible origin. The bootstrap paradox is used deliberately in the plot of the movie Predestination. If you haven't watched it, I recommend that you do.
The Terminator - Bootstrap Paradox 1
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor being born and becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. Whilst trying to carry out its orders, The Terminator is destroyed and both Sarah Connor and John Connor survive. The smashed remains of The Terminator are found by Cyberdyne systems, the creator of both Terminator and Skynet technology, and from these remains, The Terminator and Skynet are developed.
In this case, the information on how to build a Terminator has no origin. It is developed in the past from technnology sent from the future. In other words, no-one actually sat down and designed a terminator from scratch. Terminator and Skynet info comes from the future to the past. The info is used in the past to build terminator and skynet in the future.
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor being born and becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. Whilst trying to carry out its orders, The Terminator is destroyed and both Sarah Connor and John Connor survive. The smashed remains of The Terminator are found by Cyberdyne systems, the creator of both Terminator and Skynet technology, and from these remains, The Terminator and Skynet are developed.
In this case, the information on how to build a Terminator has no origin. It is developed in the past from technnology sent from the future. In other words, no-one actually sat down and designed a terminator from scratch. Terminator and Skynet info comes from the future to the past. The info is used in the past to build terminator and skynet in the future.
The Terminator - Bootstrap Paradox 2:
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor being born and becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. The Terminator fails and the knowledge about Johns future leads Sarah Connor to train John Connor to be a good military tactician and leader.
In this case, the only reason that John Connor is trained to be a good military tactician and leader is because The Termminator came back into the past and tried to kill his mother. Had it not been for the terminator arriving, John Connor would have been a regular schmo. Terminator arrives and tries to kill Sarah. Terminator Fails. Sarah trains John as Military leader. John attacks Skynet. Terminator sent back to kill Sarah.
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor being born and becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. The Terminator fails and the knowledge about Johns future leads Sarah Connor to train John Connor to be a good military tactician and leader.
In this case, the only reason that John Connor is trained to be a good military tactician and leader is because The Termminator came back into the past and tried to kill his mother. Had it not been for the terminator arriving, John Connor would have been a regular schmo. Terminator arrives and tries to kill Sarah. Terminator Fails. Sarah trains John as Military leader. John attacks Skynet. Terminator sent back to kill Sarah.
The Terminator - Bootstrap Paradox 3:
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future.
If The Terminator had been successful in killing Sarah Connor then John Connor would not have been born. If John Connor wasn't born then there would be no reason for Skynet to send back a terminator to kill Sarah Connor in the first place meaning that John Connor would have been born. (Head twister!)
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future.
If The Terminator had been successful in killing Sarah Connor then John Connor would not have been born. If John Connor wasn't born then there would be no reason for Skynet to send back a terminator to kill Sarah Connor in the first place meaning that John Connor would have been born. (Head twister!)
The Terminator - Bootstrap Paradox 4:
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. The resistance sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah from The Terminator. Kyle and Sarah have sex and John Connor is conceived.
THE BIG REVEAL - Skynet (By Its Actions) Created Its Nemesis, John Connor! The only reason that Kyle Reese is sent into the past is to protect Sarah Connor from The Terminator who's mission it is to prevent John Connor ever being born. Whilst in the past, Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor have sex and Kyle becomes John Connors biological father and therefore Skynets actions to prevent John Connor from being born cause John Connor to be concieved and born.
Premise - The Terminator is sent back by Skynet into the past to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of John Connor, in order to stop John Connor becoming the leader of the resistance and defeating Skynet in the future. The resistance sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah from The Terminator. Kyle and Sarah have sex and John Connor is conceived.
THE BIG REVEAL - Skynet (By Its Actions) Created Its Nemesis, John Connor! The only reason that Kyle Reese is sent into the past is to protect Sarah Connor from The Terminator who's mission it is to prevent John Connor ever being born. Whilst in the past, Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor have sex and Kyle becomes John Connors biological father and therefore Skynets actions to prevent John Connor from being born cause John Connor to be concieved and born.
Have I missed one? Probably... Feel free to point out my lack of attention to detail in the comments.
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