By Maya Menashe, Science & Technology Editor
Every decision you have made up to this point is fundamentally a culmination of your personality, thoughts and feelings. Every “yes,” every “right turn,” every “truth” – every nuanced choice has led you to read this very article. But what if an alternate version of yourself existed, one who lived a completely different life due to a single divergence in choice? What if, in this alternate life, in this alternate universe, you say “no,” make a “left turn,” tell “lies”?
The idea of a parallel universe has captivated scientists, philosophers, and the common man for centuries. This is because discussions about parallel universes remain theoretical; humanity has not yet discovered a way to travel faster than the speed of light, which makes the concept so attractive.
The multiverse is not a concept that was created solely for scientific fiction; the term was coined by American philosopher William James in 1895 in reference to the confusing moral meaning of natural phenomena. This idea later developed into the concept that other universes may exist beyond our observable universe, each governed by their own laws of physics and coordinate systems.
One theory made by American Hugh Everett in the mid-1950s in support of the multiverse is the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics. The logic behind this theory is based on Erwin Schrödinger’s quantum theory that tiny particles can be in two states at once until they’re observed. Schrödinger believed it was foolish to say that just because we observe one outcome does not eliminate the existence of other possibilities. MWI states that when a “random” event takes place, the universe splits between all its available options, and each separate version of the universe contains a different outcome of that event. Therefore, instead of a singular timeline, the universe under MWI has many different timelines, like branches splitting off a tree limb. As individuals, we can only view one of these outcomes, since one version of ourselves exists in each of these timelines, supporting the idea that parallel universes in different frames of time must exist.
Another theory speculated to support the multiverse concept is string theory. It proposes that the universe is made up of tiny strings rather than tiny dots (atoms), each vibrating at a different speed and therefore creating the various particles that make up everything around us. It also assumes that there are more dimensions tightly packed by the strings into infinitesimally small spaces. Each different compactification of a string produces a different spacetime, and therefore string theory can produce a multiverse made up of trillions and trillions of universes.
On the other hand, Judaism and the Torah do not explicitly support the idea of alternate universes, although we do believe that prior worlds were created and destroyed before our current one. According to one midrash, Hashem continuously created worlds and destroyed them until He created the current one, which He found to be perfect in His eyes. This implies that the world was created specifically for us, and that each component of the world was meticulously handcrafted for us and only us.
Nonetheless, imagining parallel universes where other versions of us exist would indicate that there are beings other than the humans inside of this world who also have free will, which poses an issue. The idea of parallel universes, where different versions of ourselves may make different choices, complicates the Torah’s view of free will, as it questions whether our actions in this world remain meaningful if alternative realities exist where different decisions are made.
This, however, does not mean that we do not believe in the potential of other realities. We internally create the potential for many worlds with our mere thoughts and words. When we have a thought-out plan or declare that we will achieve something, we are drawn toward that reality. This concept should not be interpreted as completely separate physical forms of reality; rather these potentials are possibilities within our own reality, connected to the choices and actions we make.
We may not be able to meet other versions of ourselves from other realities, but we can create these versions by choosing what’s right for us. What if the better alternate universe we have been seeking out all along can be created in this world?