Is the Future of Our Universe Truly Beautiful?

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The discussion centers on the possibility of humanity, or its future iterations, altering the universe's fate to create a closed system, as suggested by Frank Tipler in "The Physics of Immortality." A key point raised is the inherent limitations of human influence on the universe, emphasizing that any potential changes would be constrained by the vastness of the universe. If the universe is infinite, the impact humanity can have is negligible, and even if it is merely very large, the effect remains minimal. The conversation also touches on the unpredictability of future events that could affect these theories, highlighting a sense of uncertainty regarding the ultimate fate of the universe.
James William Hall
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Are we sure that in the next billion years we (whatever “we” are then) won’t change the dreary future of the universe to make it closed because we then, as now, will find it more beautiful? I ask because Frank Tipler’s, The Physics of Immortality, is premised on a closed universe. It would be a shame to waste all that physics and my struggles to understand it.
 
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James William Hall said:
Are we sure that in the next billion years we (whatever “we” are then) won’t change the dreary future of the universe to make it closed
Yes. We have no ability to affect anything outside of our observable universe and the universe is either infinite or staggeringly large. If it's infinite then the amount we can affect is essentially zero and if it's just staggeringly large then the amount we can affect is still essentially zero.
 
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phinds said:
Yes. We have no ability to affect anything outside of our observable universe and the universe is either infinite or staggeringly large. If it's infinite then the amount we can affect is essentially zero and if it's just staggeringly large then the amount we can affect is still essentially zero.
Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
 
Hornbein said:
Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
Well, we never saw how it all ended because of an unexpected event.
 
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