By Colin Ahern – Contributor

The ant farm operates in a glass tank full of sand. The ants burrow, mate, and feed. The colony is always moving and hums with a certain efficiency. 

The father had just returned home from work and was still dressed finely with his briefcase at his side. He sets it down before kneeling to hug his boy. They turn towards the farm. A long silence hangs in the air, pregnant with tension. 

The father began to speak, shattering the crystalline quiet. “Do you think if you knew where every ant was and where they were going you would be able to predict a day in their lives?”

“Maybe for a bit, but that sounds very difficult.” The boy stood back, as if to locate all the movement in the tank at once. 

“It would be very difficult, but it is certainly possible. If you know where everything is and where it is going, then you can see what will happen before it happens. Do you know why?”

The boy shook his head.

“It is because ants do not have free will. When they reach a crossroads, their movement will be decided by their history, influence, and personalities. Every ant is the summary of their experiences. Take a look at this one. It serves the colony and is highly predictable individually. If you could sit down and know it, then you would know what choice it would make. This means that you can tell the future if you know where everyone is, where they are going, and who they are.”