If the universe came from nothing

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the philosophical implications of the universe's origin from nothing. Participants argue that if the universe originated from nothing, it challenges the definition of "physical entity" and suggests that the universe may be conceptual rather than material. Key points include the assertion that "nothing" cannot possess properties, and the exploration of concepts from physicists like Eddington and Jordan, who proposed that the universe's mass and energy could stem from negative gravitational potential energy. The conversation emphasizes the complexity of defining "nothing" and "thing," ultimately questioning the validity of assuming the universe came from nothing.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of philosophical concepts related to existence and reality.
  • Familiarity with the works of physicists such as Arthur Eddington and Pascual Jordan.
  • Basic knowledge of the principles of quantum mechanics and the nature of matter.
  • Ability to engage with abstract concepts and paradoxes in philosophical discourse.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Eddington's "Mathematical Theory of Relativity" on modern physics.
  • Explore Pascual Jordan's theories on negative gravitational potential energy.
  • Study philosophical arguments surrounding the concept of "nothing" in metaphysics.
  • Investigate the relationship between quantum mechanics and the nature of reality.
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, physicists, and anyone interested in the foundational questions of existence, reality, and the origins of the universe.

  • #121
out of whack said:
I think we can do better. We can simply realize that the question makes no sense, stop asking it and move on to questions that do make sense.


No, he's right...the only "conclusion" is an answer which cannot be contradicted by further questioning...
 
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  • #122
DaveC426913 said:
So, if I have a box with nothing in it*, and I place a box of plumber's putty in it, have I not destroyed the nothing?

You just moved nothing out of the empty box and put in where the box of putty used to be.
 
  • #123
No, you're taking an empty box and putting a box of putty inside it..you haven't destroyedd the nothing...It's still there as much as the putty is.
 
  • #124
Castlegate said:
So you're saying that the universe can't come from nothing? That the universe had no beginning?

If so - then the universe has always been. Not for x number of years, but for an infinity of years. Yet here we are as time passes, which implies an incomplete infinity, which brings us back to ... the universe had a beginning and that it came from nothing.

All infinities are not equal, however, and such can be proven mathematically. I am uncertain as to where that leaves the argument, but it seems vaguely pertinent.
 
  • #125
This is a very old thread, and the person you are replying to is no longer with us.
 

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