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Author | Topic: A Proposed Proof That The Origin of The Universe Cannot Be Scientifically Explained | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
nano Member (Idle past 37 days) Posts: 110 Joined: |
I don't think one can prove God exists, but I do think its possible to prove that the origin of the universe cannot be scientifically explained. I do this by using logic and/or set-theory. Therefore, I propose a discussion of my proof with an eye towards identifying flaws in my logic.
Here is my proof: 1. Consider the beginning of the universe. The word "universe" can be freely exchanged with "multiverse" if you wish. I originally posted this at http://www.mektek.net/...-cannot-be-scientifically-explained, but I think I need a more focused forum for this subject. So that is what brings me here today.
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AdminPhat Administrator Posts: 1976 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: |
This topic is interesting.
Origin Of The Universe Theories a Proof is defined as --Evidence or argument establishing or helping to establish a fact or the truth of a statement. We can discuss this either in Faith/Belief or perhaps Miss. topics. Or would you prefer it be scientific? If so, lets refine your "proof". Add by edit: I read your thread at the other site and it is quite well done. Im going to let you edit the topic and refine the proof a bit and then I'll promote you. Do you want to allow input from science only? Edited by AdminPhat, :
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nano Member (Idle past 37 days) Posts: 110 Joined: |
I envision this as not a scientific proof, but rather one derived from classical Logic and logical definitions. Remember that Logic class you might have taken in college? It's usually part of the Philosophy department. That's what I am going for.
For example: A=B, B=C, therefore A=C. Or maybe something like "If A and B are true then C must be true" if given certain logical, albeit in this example case hypothetical, associations. I don't think there is much debate about the importance of cause and effect in the Scientific Method. So, in my "proof", everything hangs on what the logical definition of "first" is and what "has always been here" logically means. It also relies on how a set is populated and defined. One key question is "Can the set of all possibilities at the origin of the universe be reduced, simplified and described logically as: Either Indeed, I believe this is the primary crux of my argument and may be the more interesting place to start. Nevertheless, I can certainly simplify and streamline my "proof". I'm not sure about the input from science only. Edited by nano, : No reason given.
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AdminPhat Administrator Posts: 1976 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: |
Thread copied here from the A Proposed Proof That The Origin of The Universe Cannot Be Scientifically Explained thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.
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Pressie Member (Idle past 5 days) Posts: 2087 From: Pretoria, SA Joined:
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No, the crux is that all the possibilties can't be reduced to just two things. You forget about other possibilties such as: and/or The possibilities are endless. Why restrict it to two? Edited by Pressie, : Added the crux is that all possibilties can't be reduced to just two things.
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Tangle Member Posts: 8044 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 5.7 |
I'm afraid you can't solve this puzzle with logic or philosophy - neither are science and it's science that you say can't explain it.
Logic fails at your 2nd point. According to several physicists - most notably Prof Hawking - the universe as we see it now, arose from nothing. That isn't a concept you can't just think your way out of - you need some mathematical ability to play with the madness of quantum theory. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to ... set the Universe going." Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
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Stile Member Posts: 4010 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: |
Perhaps.
Is it? I don't think it is (but I might be wrong).
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Omnivorous Member (Idle past 354 days) Posts: 3811 From: Adirondackia Joined:
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Always is a slippery word. "If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you can collect a lot of heads."
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Dogmafood Member (Idle past 182 days) Posts: 1814 From: Ontario Canada Joined: |
What would be an example of science being done that does not employ the constraints of cause and effect? Science is the observation of a cause or an effect and then predicting the cause or the effect as the case may be. You cant do much science without the principal of cause and effect.
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Stile Member Posts: 4010 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: |
Observation: All rocks I've ever seen are hard. That is some very simple science. It's wrong, but it's science. We can find soft rocks, and amend this little "theory" or we can not find soft rocks and keep this theory going. Rocks do not "cause" hardness. It is a simple observation and a simple prediction. It is simple science. No?
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member |
Maybe two 1/2 universes combined to form a whole universe. Have you heard of the Ekpyrotic universe model with the colliding branes?
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Percy Member Posts: 19885 From: New Hampshire Joined:
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Not only is "cause and effect" not mentioned in the scientific method, the scientific method was used to discover effects which have no apparent cause. --Percy
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Son Goku Member Posts: 1164 From: Ireland Joined:
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Not so. Imagine a universe where an object lives for one second before dying and creating the next object. I can label each object with an integer and I'll choose to call one of the objects "0". The list of objects now runs like this is time: ..............,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,............................ You can even set up universes like this consistent with special relativity and having complicated dynamical laws, which are mathematically and logically consistent. You'll notice that there is neither a first object, nor is there an object that has always been there.
I can set up a universe where time only lasts for, let us say, one hundred years, but it loops around on itself, t = 100 and t = 0 being the same point. I could place a gas in this toy universe that evolves as time continues. The state of the gas at t = 56 is caused by the state at t = 55. The state at t = 99 causes the state at t = 0. Hence this gas is "always there" and yet each state has a unique cause.
There are quantum mechanical predictions which make no use of cause and effect (as well as simpler observational theories like Stile mentioned). These predictions have been verified using the scientific method. Without 2., 4. and 6. I do not see how the conclusion can be reached. Edited by Son Goku, : No reason given. Edited by Son Goku, : No reason given.
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Dr Adequate Member Posts: 16112 Joined:
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I think nano's ideas are basically sound, apart from his use of the word "scientifically" which is superfluous.
To explain why there is something rather than nothing, we'd need to point to a cause. What cause? A cause would be a thing, which would make it one of the things we needed to explain. Either we have an infinite regress of causes without a first cause, in which case we haven't answered the question, or we have a first cause without an explanation, in which case we still haven't answered the question. However, the word "scientifically" is, as I say, superfluous. Because it's not like there's some unscientific answer which would keep us off the horns of the dilemma. Edited by Dr Adequate, : No reason given.
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Stile Member Posts: 4010 From: Ontario, Canada Joined:
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Are we sure about this? Can the answer be "there is something rather than nothing because this is the way things are." And then involve a description of how we know that things are "this way?" Maybe if there doesn't have to be something... then you are correct? I would say the odds are in the favour of us not being able to find out. But, that doesn't make it impossible, no?
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