Course Correction, Memory Loss and Paradox’
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By jax
- Course Correction, Memory Loss and Paradox’
- Created: Mar 1, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
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What if Dan’s memory problems are caused by course correction, due to the paradox that would occur if he remembered his meeting with Des is 1996?
— jax
This is only my second time posting a theory, so please bare with me :)
I have been trying to get my head around how all this consciousness time-travelling could work without causing paradoxes and changing the future - as Dan seems so adamant it cant do.
And then while enjoying a cigeratte and pondering on it some more just now, it occurred to me.
In FBYE it was quite clearly stated the universe will “course correct” if something doesn’t happen the way it should. Perhaps this extends beyond the simple matter of when you are destined to die, but also to events that could change the future and/or create a paradox.
So what of the memory problems Dan has been displaying? I don’t think he was there before….just before he began reciting the cards, Charlotte seemed to have been timing and said “time” - so its more likely to be a simple memory test, ie look at cards and then try to remember them say, 30 minutes later. What if Dan’s memory problems are caused by course correction, due to the paradox that would occur if he remembered his meeting with Des is 1996? When he looked for an entry in his journal, he didn’t seem to know what he was looking for or where to look, he was just flicking. And he seemed very surprised by what he found. And he certainly didn’t seem to have the same memory problems when he was at Oxford in 1996.
This could also explain why Charlie doesn’t remember meeting Des while busking.
I cant wait for the next episode as i’m insanely curious to see if Des is now back to 2004 consciousness and awareness, and if he remembers any of the events while he time tripped, or will just have a very bad headache and a sense of missing some time.
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desmond | Desmond David Hume | 2.23, 3.17, 4.5 | 851 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.22 | Through The Looking Glass | 5-23-2007 | Jack | 1251 |
Jax - The way I saw it there was the suggestion that Dan’s memory problems were a result of not covering his head during his experiments twenty odd times a day! I like your idea that the universe course correcting patches together any possible paradoxes though.
I believe Des is back to 2004 consciousness now. His ‘remembering’ Sayid’s name at the end of the episode, and Sayid asking if he was all right, pointed towards everything being back on track and ready to go on as before.
Ah yes I forgot about the head comment lol. That does make more sense. Unless that was the universe at work……he seems intelligent enough to know that he would need to cover his head aswell, perhaps an oversight that he didnt seem able to explain could be the universes method?
Clutching at straws? Moi? Never hehe :)
Thanks for reply x
I think memories have a lot to with course correction and paradox solving.
“please bare with me”
Only if you’re a woman. Otherwise you’re on your own, buddy.
We seem to have a paradox or two already, though. For instance, 2004 Faraday gives Desmond the frequency and oscillation necessary for time travel. Desmond gives the info to 1996 Faraday. Ergo, NOBODY ever actually discovered the number. Faraday had it handed to him in 1996, and 8 years later gave that information to himself.
Eloise learned the maze in a future that she never actually experienced. Oops.
Paradoxes all over the place.