Given a single-use time machine, would you rather travel 100 years into the past or 100 years into the future?

Suppose you go to the past. The date is March 23, 1918, only eight months from the end of World War I. The United States Congress just established time zones, Moscow just became the capital of Soviet Russia, and Claude Debussy will be dead in two days¹. The average family makes $1518², which has the same buying power as roughly $26,000 today.

In 11 years, the Great Depression will wreak havoc on billions of people. In the United States alone, one of every four will be unemployed and many more will struggle to stay above the poverty line. And as the Great Depression comes to an end, many breathe a sigh of relief followed with a gasp of alarm as World War II looms around the corner. Roughly one of every five males registered in the United States will be drafted³, and over 400,000 will not come home⁴. Over 17,000,000 lives will be taken by Nazi Germany and its allies in what comes to be known as one of the most horrendous acts in recorded history.

“Jeez, the past seems pretty bad. Why would anyone want to go back in time?”

Well, for starters, with a couple of well-researched investments, you could become rich beyond your wildest dreams. You could prevent some of the world’s most terrible events (or make it even worse). Or, you could finally answer the predestination paradox!

Suppose you go to the future. The date is March 23, 2118. The field of genetic engineering has matured over the last century; hereditary diseases are a thing of the past. Inter-planet travel is a must, as careless policies and regulations left Earth unable to support continued population growth. Mars is the most popular location, followed by the moons of Saturn. Both have extremely strict laws to ensure that the same mistakes aren’t made again. Universities fall out of focus, as virtual learning becomes the norm. To learn, simply “download” a topic to the “brain” and it is understood. The brain has been intertwined with computers to allow for increased cognitive abilities, such as ultra-fast computation and detection of biases, all while keeping the user human.

Automation and artificial intelligence officially remove the need for a vast majority of human labor. Money becomes obsolete, as all needs are met for everyone. Simulations exist to live out fantasies (think Westworld) as an escape from the real world(s).

“Holy cow! The future seems awesome. I can’t wait!”

Of course, the future could be vastly different than described above. Imagine if a Polish resident in 1840 made the decision to travel 100 years into the future. It is easy to focus on the best case while disregarding the worst, regardless of the likelihood of either.

Now, back to the initial question. If presented the choice between the two scenarios: what would you choose? Would you make the decision based on curiosity about what is to come? On the ability to change the world? On the chance of wealth beyond imagination? Heads you go to the past, tails to the future?

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918
   2.https://www.bls.gov/opub/uscs/1918-19.pdf
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States#World_War_II
   4.https://www.nationalww2museum.org/
   Note: this is meant to be a short thought-provoking article, which includes many seemingly unfounded predictions about the future. If you have a better prediction and can justify it, please do not hesitate to comment! Just keep in mind the principle of charity…