Concepts/Precognition

Home Page Concepts Recent Changes Log In

No diff available--this is the first major revision. (no other diffs)

Copenhagen Shadow

How does one defeat a being that can predict the future? After all, they know what you're going to do before you do it, yes?

The answer is to bring another being that can predict the future. When two beings who can see the future can both act on it, the possibilities of variance become too great. This uncertainty is sometimes called the Copenhagen shadow. A precognitive brought along simply to observe (so that their observation will cast the shadow over the activity, shielding it from others) is sometimes called Wigner's friend.

The Copenhagen shadow assumes a universe that permits such variation. If all things are predetermined (and simply unknowable), two precognitives will simply see the same fate.

Literary References

In Frank Herbert's Dune series, the drug known as spice permits trained users to see the future. To plot against the all-knowing, precognitive messiah, saboteurs have a navigator present at their meetings whose only purpose is to shield them by the nature of his precognition.

Web Reference


Home Page Concepts Recent Changes Log In
Edit text of this page View other revisions
Last edited July 21, 2005 9:37 am by Foonly (diff)
Search: