Was There Time Before the Big Bang?

[dm4b]

Time and "Before" the Big Bang

I am just trying to get a feel for the general consensus on whether not not time was "created" in the Big Bang, meaning there really is no "before" the Big Bang.

As I understand it, in M Theory cosmology the (or, our) Big Bang would not be the beginning of time. For there to be brane dyamics there would have to be time, right?

What's the view on time existing before the Big Bang under Eternal Inflation?

Also, are there any other theories with interesting viewpoints out there beyond these two?

It's my understanding that regular inflationary theories don't even deal with the question at all, being outside its purview. Is that correct?

Are there any theories that do not include a time dimension? Hard to imagine one, since it would see nothing would happen w/o time? I guess perhaps we start getting into philosophy at this point, so maybe I should stop here so another one of my threads doesn't get shut down ;-)

 

[edgepflow]

I will try to summarize but it may contain some errors:

* General Relativity Point-of-View: space time was created with universe at t=0 but theory blows up at t=0.

* Quantum cosmology point of view: time was "fuzzy" between t=0 and the Planck time (10^-43 sec) but time need not exist before t=0. Perhaps our universe could have quantum tunneled from something before t = 0, but I am not sure how reasonable this is.

* M-theory: time existing before our universe was generated at t = 0 but the cosmos is not infinitely old. In this context, the "cosmos" is our universe and any and all other separate space times.

* Eternal inflation- basically a scalar field or false vacuum existied before t =0 for our universe but again the cosmos is not infinitely old. Guth calls this "past incomplete."

 

[mathman]

In addition there are other theories, such as an oscillating universe.

 

[bcrowell]

I'm willing to bet a six-pack that we won't know the answer in the next 1000 years. That's assuming that you are I are still alive in 1000 years and they still have six-packs then.

 

[BillSaltLake]

In the year 2561, they'll invent 1-packs that spontaneously regenerate.

 

[skydivephil]

I am just trying to get a feel for the general consensus on whether not not time was "created" in the Big Bang, meaning there really is no "before" the Big Bang.

As I understand it, in M Theory cosmology the (or, our) Big Bang would not be the beginning of time. For there to be brane dyamics there would have to be time, right?

What's the view on time existing before the Big Bang under Eternal Inflation?

Also, are there any other theories with interesting viewpoints out there beyond these two?

It's my understanding that regular inflationary theories don't even deal with the question at all, being outside its purview. Is that correct?

Are there any theories that do not include a time dimension? Hard to imagine one, since it would see nothing would happen w/o time? I guess perhaps we start getting into philosophy at this point, so maybe I should stop here so another one of my threads doesn't get shut down ;-)

This book, when it comes out, (the release date seems to be eternally pushed back)will hopefully help:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3540714227/?tag=pfamazon01-20
it lays out seevral different scenarios, I htink its safe to say there is no consensus.

 

[dm4b]

Thanks skydivephil. Looks like an interesting book. Hopefully that price comes down!

 

[Nabeshin]

I'm willing to bet a six-pack that we won't know the answer in the next 1000 years. That's assuming that you are I are still alive in 1000 years and they still have six-packs then.

You're on.

 

[phinds]

In the year 2561, they'll invent 1-packs that spontaneously regenerate.