PHIL 1402 – Introduction to Philosophy
University of the People
Learning Journal Unit 2
This week's engagement with metaphysical themes through various readings and
discussions has been enlightening, to say the least. The most captivating lesson came from
exploring the Grandfather Paradox and Zeno’s Paradox during our discussions. These paradoxes
challenge conventional understanding of time and motion, pushing us to rethink causality and the
continuum of time and space.
Before this week, I perceived time as linear and absolute, a constant forward motion that's
predictable and unidirectional. However, the discussion around the Grandfather Paradox,
highlighted by the video from Khan Academy, introduced a fascinating layer of complexity to
my understanding (Khan Academy, n.d.). The paradox proposes that if one were to travel back in
time and interfere in a way that prevents their own birth, such as attempting to harm a
grandparent before their parent is conceived, it creates a logical contradiction since the time
traveler could not have existed to initiate the action in the first place.
This new viewpoint radically alters my old linear perspective of time. It suggests that time
might not just flow in one direction but could be a more fluid, dynamic fabric that's subject to the
influences of actions, even retroactively. This thought dovetails intriguingly with Zeno's Paradox,
which illustrates the division of space and time into infinite increments, making motion
seemingly impossible, yet it occurs (Platonic Realms, n.d.). It's an excellent demonstration of
how our intuitive understanding of the world can be fundamentally flawed or incomplete.
Engaging with these ideas has shifted my worldview to embrace a more complex, layered
understanding of reality. It encourages a philosophical flexibility where I'm now more open to
considering concepts that challenge or even contradict "common sense." The discussion
effectively transformed my thinking from a rigid interpretation of reality to a more nuanced,
questioning approach. It highlights the importance of philosophical inquiry in expanding the
horizons of what we consider to be true or possible, proving that deep engagement with
metaphysical questions is not just academic but can inform our understanding of the very nature
of existence.
Reference:
Khan Academy. (n.d.). The Grandfather Paradox [Video]. Retrieved from
https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/wi-phi/wiphi-metaphysics-epistemology/wiphi-
metaphysics/v/the-grandfather-paradox
Platonic Realms. (n.d.). Zeno’s Paradox of the Tortoise and Achilles. Retrieved from
http://platonicrealms.com/encyclopedia/zenos-paradox-of-the-tortoise-and-achilles
