I've read some theories stating that the compass is stuck in a time loop, where Locke gives Richard a compass, which Richard then gives to Locke years later, only for Locke to go back in time and give back to Richard, over and over again, ad infinitum. The conclusion drawn from this is that the compass is a paradox, since it has no beginning and no end.
I don't see this as a paradox, because the compass does have a beginning.
The time loop referred to in the theory begins in 1954 and ends in 2007. Imagine, then, that in 1953, Richard has a compass. Years later, in 2007, Locke receives this compass from Richard. Locke then goes back in time, and gives Richard the compass in 1954. This would mean that in 1954, Richard owns two compasses. The one he owned in 1953, and now that same compass (which is now much older) that Locke gave him.
It's important to note that in 1954, Richard probably doesn't know that he will eventually give the compass to Locke, so he doesn't know that they are in fact the same compass. To him, they just look like the same type of compass. (Which is normal, when you think about it. If your friend gives you a watch, and you already have that exact same watch, you wouldn't assume that the watch your friend gave you is from the future.)
At this point in time, the compass that Locke gives to Richard becomes THE compass that is stuck in the loop, and the other compass is just another compass at this point.
Thus, the compass does have a beginning. But does it have an end, or is it stuck in the time loop? I would think that the answer is that it would have to have an end, because a compass can't last forever before it breaks, and we know that the compass still works.
Perhaps (and this is conjecture, since we haven't seen evidence of this), the compass that Locke gives to Richard stops working at some time between 1954 and 2007 (after all, by 2007, it would have to be at least 100 years old, so I don't think this is hard to imagine). So, instead of giving Locke a compass that doesn't work, he gives Locke the other compass which does work. They look the same anyway, since they are effectively the same, only of different ages.
So, the compass isn't so much stuck in an infinite time loop, it just takes a much longer ride than would have normally happened.
I don't see this as a paradox, because the compass does have a beginning.
The time loop referred to in the theory begins in 1954 and ends in 2007. Imagine, then, that in 1953, Richard has a compass. Years later, in 2007, Locke receives this compass from Richard. Locke then goes back in time, and gives Richard the compass in 1954. This would mean that in 1954, Richard owns two compasses. The one he owned in 1953, and now that same compass (which is now much older) that Locke gave him.
It's important to note that in 1954, Richard probably doesn't know that he will eventually give the compass to Locke, so he doesn't know that they are in fact the same compass. To him, they just look like the same type of compass. (Which is normal, when you think about it. If your friend gives you a watch, and you already have that exact same watch, you wouldn't assume that the watch your friend gave you is from the future.)
At this point in time, the compass that Locke gives to Richard becomes THE compass that is stuck in the loop, and the other compass is just another compass at this point.
Thus, the compass does have a beginning. But does it have an end, or is it stuck in the time loop? I would think that the answer is that it would have to have an end, because a compass can't last forever before it breaks, and we know that the compass still works.
Perhaps (and this is conjecture, since we haven't seen evidence of this), the compass that Locke gives to Richard stops working at some time between 1954 and 2007 (after all, by 2007, it would have to be at least 100 years old, so I don't think this is hard to imagine). So, instead of giving Locke a compass that doesn't work, he gives Locke the other compass which does work. They look the same anyway, since they are effectively the same, only of different ages.
So, the compass isn't so much stuck in an infinite time loop, it just takes a much longer ride than would have normally happened.
