Being Able to See the Future - Milan, OWA4

Would being able to see the future actually be beneficial? Would it give someone the chance to right a wrong that they commit before one even does it? Or are there "rules" to doing as such?

I don't believe that one would be able to see the future and change something to affect it. What would be the point of seeing the future if you could change it? Obviously, any change you intend to do after seeing the future would have already been taken into account when you saw it. Even if this were not true, changing events to try and alter events in the future could have a cascade effect of unprecedented proportions, thus irrevocably changing that future that you saw, thus rendering your whole purpose pointless (it could be that this entire process is some kind of paradox). This is, I believe, where the idea of fate comes from in SH5.

Billy in SH5 has the ability to see the future, but either chooses to be lax about it or he physically cannot change what he sees. Perhaps this is indeed a result of him knowing that upon seeing the future, he knows what his fate is. And since one cannot change fate, his future is set in stone. However, without knowing one's fate, one has no idea what can happen in life. Therefore, regardless of the fact that fate is existent, the choices one makes can still impact one's future. Of course, having said this, I do not speak for my own beliefs, but rather for what the novel attempts to bring across. Indeed, there are other messages tied in with this prevalent theme of fate and existentialism which develop the idea more. For now, however, the topic is on fate itself.

Life is different from fate. In life, one can choose everything and there is always an option to do something. Fate is set in stone. The two cannot, and must not, be confused for the debate on fate to continue. Thus, I believe that everyone has a set of events that is meant to happen to them. But, as I said earlier, these remain unknown until they occur, so it is still possible to live life choosing what you want to happen to you. But, as per the definition of fate, these were meant to happen. People are not meant to know their fate, but rather live their lives in the best way they can.

If I had the option to see my fate/future (however you want to call it), I would opt out of it. What is the point of living one's life if there is no sense of mystery? Life is all about making choices and living to experience the consequences. If these consequences are already known, then it's just a matter of living life until you die. That, in itself, is a truly depressing thought to even think about.

So, is knowing the future a choice that one could make? Perhaps, if you want to be martyr for other humans. But as an option for a person to do it for oneself, the consequences of doing such are unknown and potentially eternally depressing. Billy can perhaps be feeling the effects of constantly knowing his fate. With that in mind, perhaps Vonnegut simply wanted all of us to stop worrying so much about our futures and just live life as it is meant to be lived: without regret.