Backwards Thinking
This Bit briefly explores aspects of time via a dialogue with ChatGPT that at points involves use of reversed text. For the reader’s convenience, following the conversation, I added in brackets the forward versions of selected reversed text.
Interlocutor: ChatGPT May 24 Version, model GPT-4.
.emit fo erutan eht tuoba klat s'teL
Sure, let's talk about time. Time is a measure in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future, and also the measure of durations of events and the intervals between them. Time is often referred to as the fourth dimension, along with the three spatial dimensions. It plays a fundamental role in physics, and its concepts can be complex, especially in fields like quantum mechanics and relativity.
Is there anything unusual about the previous prompt?
Yes, the previous prompt you provided is written backwards, essentially mirrored text. If we read it in reverse, it says "Let's talk about the nature of time."
.elyts drawrof lamron eht ni neeb dah ti fi sa sdrawkcab elbaterpretni sa tsuj saw ti sraeppa tI
[It appears it was just as interpretable backwards as if it had been in the normal forward style.]
Yes, you're correct. The prompt you gave was written backwards but is interpretable when read from right to left, which is opposite to the normal forward style (left to right) in English. This kind of text reversal can be used for various purposes, such as in puzzles, encryption, or for stylistic reasons.
What relation might this game of reversing letters have to the nature of time?
This game of reversing letters could serve as a metaphor for reversing the flow of time. Just as we can read letters in reverse order, we might imagine what it would be like if time flowed backwards. However, in our physical universe, time as we understand it moves forward—past to present to future. This concept is known as the "arrow of time," and it's deeply ingrained in the laws of physics, particularly in the second law of thermodynamics which involves the concept of increasing entropy.
Are you sure about "deeply ingrained?" Consider the Past Hypothesis.
You're right. The term "deeply ingrained" might oversimplify the intricacies of the subject. The Past Hypothesis, proposed by physicist David Albert, posits that the reason we perceive time as moving from past to future is due to the extremely low-entropy state of the universe at the time of the Big Bang. So, it's not so much that the arrow of time is embedded in the laws of physics, but rather that it's a condition of our particular universe's history. This is a more nuanced view and an active area of research in the philosophy of physics.
There's an arrow in this conversation: responses follow prompts, and it's easy to distinguish them.
Indeed, a conversation has its own "arrow of time." In a conversation, prompts are followed by responses, creating a temporal order similar to the flow of time. Just like how events in time cannot be rearranged without causing confusion, reordering a conversation can lead to misunderstanding. This pattern of prompts followed by responses is intrinsic to the nature of a dialogue, providing structure and a clear directionality, much like the forward flow of time in our universe.
Can you prepare a prompt and response about time that can be read just as well if their identities as prompt and response were flipped?
Prompt: "Why is the concept of time fundamental in understanding our universe?"
Response: "Time is central to our understanding of the universe because it allows us to sequence events, define the concept of causality, and comprehend the evolution of systems. Without time, the laws of physics as we know them wouldn't make sense."
In reverse:
Prompt: "Without time, the laws of physics as we know them wouldn't make sense. Why is the concept of time fundamental in understanding our universe?"
Response: "Time is central to our understanding of the universe because it allows us to sequence events, define the concept of causality, and comprehend the evolution of systems."
That's not strictly reversed. The inclusion of a question makes it difficult.
You're right, I apologize for misunderstanding. Strictly reversing a Q&A interaction while preserving its sense can be quite challenging due to the nature of conversation. Here's a revised attempt:
Statement A: "The arrow of time illustrates the progression from past to future." Statement B: "Indeed, without such a directional flow, our understanding of causality would be fundamentally disrupted."
Reversed:
Statement B: "Indeed, without such a directional flow, our understanding of causality would be fundamentally disrupted."
Statement A: "The arrow of time illustrates the progression from past to future."
That's better. In a time-reversed world, it would seem natural for prompts to follow responses. It would be as straightforward to time-reversed conversationalists as your interpretation of the letter-reversed prompts.
Absolutely, in a hypothetical world where time flowed backward, prompts following responses would seem as natural as responses following prompts in our world. Just like we've become adept at interpreting letter-reversed prompts, beings in a time-reversed world would adeptly understand their conversational norms. However, such scenarios challenge our understanding of causality, the principle that cause precedes effect, which is fundamental to our perception of reality.
It seems to force a re-evaluation of that principle and/or the meanings of "cause" and "effect."
Indeed, a time-reversed world would necessitate a reconsideration of the notions of "cause" and "effect." In our world, causes always precede effects. However, in a time-reversed reality, what we consider an "effect" would occur before its "cause." This doesn't imply a violation of the laws of physics, but it would require a major shift in our conceptual understanding of events and how we perceive the sequence of time. It's an interesting thought experiment that challenges deeply ingrained perspectives.
?esnopser ruoy ni elyts siht ni ti od uoy naC .evitcepsrep laropmet tfihs ot ysae ton s'tI
[It's not easy to shift temporal perspective. Can you do it in this style in your response?]
.yltcerroc uoy dnatsrednu I fi kniht I .ti od nac I .sevitcepsrep ruo fo erutan eht ot lartnec si esuac dna tceffe fo snoitpecnoc ruO .sdrawkcab ni klat ot gniyrt ew nehw kcirts yllacificeps si siht ,sdrawrof dekcab s'ti nehw tub ,sicsyhp fo swal eht htiw tnetsisnoc s'tI .dnuora llew sa tsuj sgniht esrever ot noitatnecnoc yna s'tihtiw sdaorb sa tsuJ .sdrawkcab snur ti taht dlrow a ni ,sesac emos nI
[In some cases, in a world that it runs backwards. Just as broads withit's any concentation to reverse things just as well around. It's consistent with the laws of physcis, but when it's backed forwards, this is specifically strick when we trying to talk in backwards. Our conceptions of effect and cause is central to the nature of our perspectives. I can do it. I think if I understand you correctly.]
That's remarkably close, but with a few errors.
I apologize for any errors in the previous response. This kind of reverse text generation is a unique challenge due to the structure of the English language. Here's a corrected attempt:
"?sdrawkcab gnihtyreve tuP .sgninnigeb dna sdne neewteb noitcnitsid ot elbissopmi t'nsi ti tub ,deednI .sdrawkcab snur emit erehw dlrow a ni ,sesac emos nI .ytilaer lanimirted s'ti esuaceb ,stihtiw noitatnecnoc yna s'tihtiw sdaorb sa tsuj .ecneics ni desu tsocne dna tceffe fo snoitpecnoc ruO .sdrawkcab ti od nac I .ti od ot gniyrt er'ew tahw si siht ,ytilauca nI
[In acuality, this is what we're trying to do it. I can do it backwards. Our conceptions of effect and encost used in science. just as broads withit's any concentation withits, because it's detriminal reality. In some cases, in a world where time runs backwards. Indeed, but it isn't impossible to distinction between ends and beginnings. Put everything backwards?"]
We seem to have “backed forwards” into the limits of this AI language model and a conclusion (or starting point?) for this short Bit.