One of the peculiar components of the big bang theory is the necessity of the 'inflation' process required for the theory to concur with the reality of the observed universe. In Michio Kaku's book PARALLEL WORLDS, it is reported on page 13 that the expansion of 'empty space' allows the new universe to expand faster than the speed of light.
The only problem with this assertion is that it is both rationally and empirically impossible.
It is intuitively obvious that SPACE is an absolute necessity for movement of any kind, whether it be in thought or observed. Therefore, the thoughtful observer realizes that if there were no space of any kind existing before the big bang it would be impossible for the big bang to originate, because no movement of any kind would be possible. Space and 'something' existing in that space preceded the big bang.
Space is the most mystical of all concepts because it 'exists' by not existing,is unaffected by time,is boundless,is the ultimate infinite and it can neither expand nor contract.
Well, I've given my opinion. Can space (empty or otherwise) expand or contract? What do think?
selfAdjoint
02.14.05, 11:16 AM
Nevertheless, the distance between remote galaxies is increasing faster than light, and at an accelerated rate, not because they are speeding through their local spaces, but because SPACE is being added between them.
Philosophical considerations and the intuitions of a recently evolved primate on a tiny planet in an out-of-the-way solar sytstem cannot constrain reality.
sd01g
02.14.05, 11:29 PM
Nevertheless, the distance between remote galaxies is increasing faster than light, and at an accelerated rate, not because they are speeding through their local spaces, but because SPACE is being added between them.
Philosophical considerations and the intuitions of a recently evolved primate on a tiny planet in an out-of-the-way solar sytstem cannot constrain reality.
Hello Super Mentor selfadjoint. Greetings from the primate world. I
would suggest that the proper role for any and all recently evolved
primates, irrespective of their planet or their planet's location,
would be to understand REALITY rather than constrain it.
The relative speed of close or distant galaxies observed today has
no significance for the problem of inflation as related to the big
bang hypothesis. (the big bang predicts nothing and requires too
many modifications after empirical observations to justify theory
status. Besides, it can never be duplicated or observed-maybe it is
not even a good hypothesis?) Probably should be called the big bang
conjecture. Sometimes those primates can really get out of control.
To continue, the big bang theory could not have created space
because any and all movement, however slight, requires space for this
movement. No space--no movement; no movement no big bang. If you, or
anyone, can produce movement without utilizing space, please inform
me. Conclusion: space existed before the big bang.
Most reasonable primate observers agree that nothing in our
universe moves faster than light speed. (neutrinos maybe-but probably
not.) The big question is, by what means did the universe undergo the
incredible superliminal expansion at the instant of its birth? The
obvious answer to this problem is found by utilizing the scientific method and invoking the scientific process of 'expanding empty space'. It turns out that the only thing that can go faster than the speed of light is nothing. The big bang did not create space and space does not
expand. Things do move but space does not.
The problem is, however, that the only way to add empty space is
for something real to move and create distance. The very fastest
speed possible would be the 'relative' speed of twice light speed in
objects going in opposite directions. Real objects would be going
slightly less than light speed. This would not be fast enough for the
inflation necessary to produce the observable universe.
If one wants to utilize the concept of INFLATION, do it
right--postulate a 'big bang particle' that could go faster than light
speed which after the necessary distance was achieved, decayed or
changed into the particles we have today. Makes more sense than
expanding empty space causing real particles to exceed the speed of
light. Hey, primates rule.
Tensor
03.07.05, 04:58 AM
sd01g touched on the first thing you should think about deeply here: the concept of space is meaningless without matter-energy to define it. Same goes for time: time only has meaning because there are things happening thru some space to compare this in. No matter? Nothing changes -- no time.
So if there were a void without matter-energy moving in it -- you would have a timeless, dimensionless void.