Are there any theories that explain where matter and energy came from?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origins of matter and energy, specifically exploring theories and hypotheses regarding how they came into existence. Participants touch on various scientific and philosophical perspectives, including the implications of these origins on broader existential questions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the question of how matter and energy came into existence can be framed scientifically, focusing on the "how" rather than the "why," which may lead to theological discussions.
  • One participant references Stephen Hawking's idea that matter and energy may arise from quantum fluctuations.
  • Another participant notes that the Big Bang theory primarily addresses events after Planck time, indicating that current scientific understanding does not provide a definitive answer for origins beyond that point.
  • A participant discusses the role of inflation in the early universe, describing how a form of matter with nearly-constant energy density could drive rapid expansion, leading to the creation of matter as the energy density decreases.
  • There is a philosophical perspective introduced, arguing that asking for a "reason" does not necessarily imply a purpose, and that the existence of existence itself may be a legitimate inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the origins of matter and energy, with no consensus reached. Some focus on scientific theories like quantum fluctuations and inflation, while others introduce philosophical considerations about purpose and existence.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in current scientific understanding, particularly regarding the conditions before Planck time and the nature of the energy density during inflation. There are also unresolved philosophical implications regarding the concept of "reason" in the context of existence.

TheJoninator
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Like has anyone ever said a reason to how matter and energy came into existence?
 
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Hello,

Current science is looking at how matter and energy came to be distributed across the cosmos. A "reason" suggests purpose, which deviates away from science and moves into theology and philosophy.

It might be worthwhile re-phrasing your question. If you are interested in the origins of the U, in otherwords the "how" then you will get a lot of good answers in these forums, if you are interested in the "why" then I am afraid you will not get much back.

Thanks
 
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Thanks. I'll re-phrase it ;D

How did matter and energy come into existence?
 
"Like has anyone ever said a reason to how matter and energy came into existence?"

If I recall correctly, Hawking says due to a Quantum Fluctuation. Others have said that 'this' is just a perturbation about zero.
 
TheJoninator said:
Thanks. I'll re-phrase it ;D

How did matter and energy come into existence?

Essentially Big Bang theory only deals with events following Planck time, to go further back than this you would need to look into QM. Currently there is not an accepted scientific answer. There are some great threads and stickies in these forums to look at. :)

Have fun reading
 
Well, largely this is down to inflation. Inflation was caused by a strange sort of matter that has a nearly-constant energy density. This nearly-constant energy density drives a rapidly-accelerated expansion. And because the energy density is nearly constant, the total energy increases dramatically along with the expansion.

However, the energy density isn't perfectly constant: it tends to decrease very slowly with time. Once the energy density reaches its minimum, the field tends to decay into normal matter particles.

So you start with a teeny tiny bit of this stuff that causes inflation, possibly caused by a quantum vacuum fluctuation, and then the expansion causes this energy to be multiplied by an obscene amount. Once the field that drives inflation decays, the energy becomes the matter we know and love.
 
Philosophical aside; reason doesn't imply purpose. The reason for the magnetic force is found in the laws of electrodynamics. No purpose is implied.

It's legitimate to ask "what's the reason for the existence of existence.". The answer may or may not contain a purposeful agent.
 

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