Was there ever a state of nothingness?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of "nothingness" in relation to the Big Bang Theory, specifically questioning whether there was ever a state of absolute nothingness prior to the Big Bang. Participants explore the implications of a singularity and the definitions of time and space in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if the Big Bang originated from a singularity, then the singularity must have existed before the Big Bang, raising questions about the nature of nothingness.
  • Others argue that the Big Bang Theory does not address what occurred before the Big Bang, and that the term "singularity" refers to a breakdown in the mathematical model rather than a specific point in time or space.
  • A participant questions how one could define "time" if there was absolutely nothing, suggesting that the concept of time may not be applicable in such a scenario.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about whether the question of nothingness has any meaningful answer, indicating that the discussion may not lead to a definitive conclusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding the existence of nothingness and the implications of the Big Bang Theory.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the nature of singularities and the conditions prior to the Big Bang, as well as the ambiguity surrounding the concept of absolute nothingness.

thetexan
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Was there ever a time in the distant past when there was absolutely nothing? I'm wondering about the big bang. If it started from a singularity then the singularity must have existed previous to the bang. Or, if there was absolutely nothing then that means the singularity did not exist.

I am defining absolutely nothing as...absolutely, lack of anything...nothing...period.

tex
 
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thetexan said:
Was there ever a time in the distant past when there was absolutely nothing? I'm wondering about the big bang. If it started from a singularity then the singularity must have existed previous to the bang. Or, if there was absolutely nothing then that means the singularity did not exist.

I am defining absolutely nothing as...absolutely, lack of anything...nothing...period.

tex
You misunderstand the Big Bang Theory and you misunderstand "singularity".

The Big Bang Theory (our currently accepted theory of cosmology) is totally agnostic about any creation event and what went on prior to the end of inflation (and inflation is not a 100% accepted theory). "Singularity" was not a place in time or space, it is a word that is just shorthand for "the place where the math model breaks down and we don't know WHAT is/was going on"
 
thetexan said:
Was there ever a time in the distant past when there was absolutely nothing?

If there is absolutely nothing, how would you define "time"?

thetexan said:
I'm wondering about the big bang. If it started from a singularity then the singularity must have existed previous to the bang.

See phinds' response.
 
Well, yes, now that you mention it, time also.

Was there ever nothing, no time and no space?

tex
 
thetexan said:
Well, yes, now that you mention it, time also.

Was there ever nothing, no time and no space?

tex
Phinds already answered this... we don't know if there was ever such a state. The Big Bang Theory doesn't say what happened before the Big Bang, and there is currently no way to know.
 
thetexan said:
Was there ever nothing, no time and no space?

This question has already been answered, to the extent it can be answered at all. It's not clear that there's even any meaning to the question to begin with.

Thread closed.
 

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