When can true singularity take place? Was the big bang the only chance

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The discussion centers on the concept of singularity, questioning when true singularity can occur and whether the Big Bang was the only instance. Participants debate whether black holes represent singularities, with some arguing that singularity is merely a label for our lack of understanding. Philosophical definitions of singularity are explored, suggesting it involves events that occur independently of other elements. The conversation highlights the complexities of understanding singularities and their relationship to black holes, emphasizing that current scientific theories do not fully explain these phenomena. Ultimately, the nature of singularities remains a profound mystery in physics.
  • #61


Pythagorean said:
It's a loaded challenge. Many aspects of gravitational singularity are described mathematically (even the wiki authors know that).

What aspects specifically are you referring to? I haven't read the wiki but my usual reference - Penrose's "the Road to reality" say no such thing.


"There is no math describing a gravitational singularity" may be true if you spin it the right way, but then it would be a meaningless and irrelevant statement.


No, i meant what i said. There is no math describing spacetime singularities.



So there's really no defending it.


I try to stay on the safe side, hence my statements are usually much stronger when I am perfectly aware that there is no empirical way to test the veracity of a theory that lies very very far in the future. Maybe you should explain in more detail what you meant so that i know what to reply to. I am completely in the dark as to what your above statements were supposed to mean.
 
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  • #63


Maui said:
No, i meant what i said. There is no math describing spacetime singularities.

R. Geroch, Annals of Phys. v.48, p.526 (1968).
D. Christodoulou, Annals of Mathematics v.140, p.607 (1994).
etc...

Zz.
 
  • #64


We won't know for quite sometime, if someone's arguing a certain point through proposed mathematical structures, depict spacetime singularities(or something quite fictitious) without some sort of empirical verification. Kind of leans towards the absurdly complex mathematics in ST that still has no empirical verification whatsoever. But there is nothing fundamenta lly wrong in being hopeful.
 
  • #65


Maui said:
We won't know for quite sometime, if someone's arguing a certain point through proposed mathematical structures, depict spacetime singularities(or something quite fictitious) without some sort of empirical verification. Kind of leans towards the absurdly complex mathematics in ST that still has no empirical verification whatsoever. But there is nothing fundamenta lly wrong in being hopeful.

But this is beside the point. You're arguing that there is NO gravitational/spacetime singularity of any kind. That in itself has no "empirical verification" either. I merely pointed out that there are plenty of theoretical papers that would counter your assertion.

Again, this is more suited to be done in the SR/GR forum where people who are more familiar with this area hang out. This is not a philosophy topic anymore.

Zz.
 
  • #66


I agree with Zapper on this. Why speculate when there are experts in another part of Physics Forums.
 

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