Could it be that the Big Bang had no cause?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of causality in relation to the Big Bang event, specifically questioning whether the Big Bang had any cause and what implications this has for our understanding of the universe. The scope includes philosophical considerations and the limits of scientific knowledge regarding the origins of the universe.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that we know very little about the universe at the beginning of the Big Bang and question whether anything existed prior to it.
  • There is a suggestion that while everything within the universe may be described by cause and effect, this framework may not apply outside the universe.
  • One participant asserts that the inquiry into events we cannot observe leans towards metaphysics and philosophy, which may not be appropriate for the forum.
  • Another participant reiterates the lack of knowledge regarding "outside of the universe," labeling the inquiry as speculative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the appropriateness of discussing the nature of causality outside the universe, with some arguing it leads to speculation and others engaging with the philosophical implications of the question.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in knowledge about the universe's origins and the boundaries between scientific inquiry and philosophical speculation.

donglepuss
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TL;DR
Could it be that everything in the universe is described by cause and effect, but we have no reason to believe that cause and effect remains valid outside of the universe?
Everything that I’ve researched into this seems to suggest that we know absolutely nothing about the universe at the beginning of the Big Bang event. Could it be that just nothing is there? Could everything in the universe be described by cause and effect, yet cause and effect does not apply outside of the universe itself?

Thanks :)
 
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donglepuss said:
TL;DR Summary: Could it be that everything in the universe is described by cause and effect, but we have no reason to believe that cause and effect remains valid outside of the universe?

Everything that I’ve researched into this seems to suggest that we know absolutely nothing about the universe at the beginning of the Big Bang event. Could it be that just nothing is there? Could everything in the universe be described by cause and effect, yet cause and effect does not apply outside of the universe itself?

Thanks :)
We have no knowledge of “outside of the universe.” Therefore you are asking for baseless speculation.
 
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And more rigorously inline with PF rules, the question of what may or may not have happened at an event we cannot observe is really more about metaphysics and philosophy, which are expressly forbidden topics for this very reason. Sorry, donglepuss.
 
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Frabjous said:
We have no knowledge of “outside of the universe.” Therefore you are asking for baseless speculation.
DaveC426913 said:
the question of what may or may not have happened at an event we cannot observe is really more about metaphysics and philosophy, which are expressly forbidden topics for this very reason.
In the light of these valid comments, this thread is closed.
 

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