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Author
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Topic: The Ultimate Question - Why is there something rather than nothing?
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 4 of 366 (624835)
07-20-2011 7:51 AM
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I submit there is no answer to the question. Some things just are. Outside of reality, how can anything have a reason? Without something, how can there be reality?
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 13 of 366 (624861)
07-20-2011 12:13 PM
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Reply to: Message 11 by ZenMonkey
07-20-2011 11:23 AM
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Re: Two Speculations
I personally favor Speculation #1. If there are an infinite number of ways for there to be something, but only one way for there to be nothing, then it's just more probable for the universe - or at least some universe or other - to exist than not. I don't see that as any kind of answer. Why are there an infinite number of universes? Isn't that already claiming "something"?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 11 by ZenMonkey, posted 07-20-2011 11:23 AM | | ZenMonkey has not replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 15 by AZPaul3, posted 07-20-2011 1:17 PM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 18 of 366 (624880)
07-20-2011 2:18 PM
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Reply to: Message 15 by AZPaul3
07-20-2011 1:17 PM
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Re: Two Speculations
I rather think any notion of a universe coming into existence is an assumption of something.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 15 by AZPaul3, posted 07-20-2011 1:17 PM | | AZPaul3 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 24 by AZPaul3, posted 07-20-2011 5:42 PM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 37 of 366 (625002)
07-21-2011 4:27 AM
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Reply to: Message 24 by AZPaul3
07-20-2011 5:42 PM
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Re: Two Speculations
Your premise was "... an infinite number of possible configurations which a universe might assume when coming into existence." of which something is more likely than nothing as a consequence. It seems to me that the idea that it is necessary for the universe to come into existence in any configuration is already a "something". A truly "nothing" universe would not "come into existence", nor lead to anything else coming into existence.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 24 by AZPaul3, posted 07-20-2011 5:42 PM | | AZPaul3 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 44 by AZPaul3, posted 07-21-2011 8:16 AM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 48 of 366 (625053)
07-21-2011 9:05 AM
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Reply to: Message 44 by AZPaul3
07-21-2011 8:16 AM
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Re: Two Speculations
So, for speculation 1, since this universe "came into being" the only configurations possible had to contain "something" by definition. Who says this universe "came into being"?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 44 by AZPaul3, posted 07-21-2011 8:16 AM | | AZPaul3 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 49 by AZPaul3, posted 07-21-2011 9:25 AM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 81 of 366 (625286)
07-22-2011 4:08 AM
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Reply to: Message 49 by AZPaul3
07-21-2011 9:25 AM
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Re: Two Speculations
Don't get your panties in a knot. If you're going to get upset if people challenge your speculations, why are you bothering to post in this thread? I laid out my view in message 4. I think "speculation" on this is an exercise in utter pointlessness; we have no basis on which to make informed speculation or judge ideas so we are merely engaging in a game of mental masturbation in which the winner is simply the one who comes up with the most plausible sounding fantasy. The absolute best we can hope for in a speculation is that it doesn't contain a straightforward logical error.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 49 by AZPaul3, posted 07-21-2011 9:25 AM | | AZPaul3 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 90 by AZPaul3, posted 07-22-2011 9:24 AM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 82 of 366 (625291)
07-22-2011 4:17 AM
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Reply to: Message 65 by Black Cat
07-21-2011 1:32 PM
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Hi Black Cat, Welcome to EvC! I apologise for rude reception you've received from my fellow posters.
One doesn't need an explanation of the explanation for it to be the best explantion. Quite correct.
Therefore, God answers the question why there is something rather than nothing. No, this doesn't follow. The problem isn't that we can't explain God, it's that God is Himself something. So you're essentially answering the question of why there is something rather than nothing by asserting the existence of something; just moving which something you're talking about. That means it fails as an explanation.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 65 by Black Cat, posted 07-21-2011 1:32 PM | | Black Cat has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 98 by Black Cat, posted 07-23-2011 12:32 AM | | Dr Jack has seen this message but not replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 86 of 366 (625304)
07-22-2011 6:47 AM
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Reply to: Message 84 by Chuck77
07-22-2011 6:33 AM
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Re: Purpose
Before you have something you need nothing. Why?
For there to be something from nothing there has to be purpose or there would always be nothing. How can there be anything to have a purpose in order to get the something from nothing? Isn't whatever the purpose is, or whatever has the purpose, something?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 84 by Chuck77, posted 07-22-2011 6:33 AM | | Chuck77 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 87 by Chuck77, posted 07-22-2011 7:14 AM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 89 of 366 (625312)
07-22-2011 7:51 AM
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Reply to: Message 87 by Chuck77
07-22-2011 7:14 AM
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Re: Purpose
Why? So then you think something always existed? And there was never nothing? Actually I made no positive assertion either way; I just challenged your assertion. You've made no attempt to defend it, so I ask again: why do have you to have nothing before you have something?
Are you a JACK of all trades and master of nothing? Cute  but it doesn't answer my question: why isn't the purpose, or whatever has the purpose, something?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 87 by Chuck77, posted 07-22-2011 7:14 AM | | Chuck77 has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 103 by Chuck77, posted 07-23-2011 2:48 AM | | Dr Jack has replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 91 of 366 (625322)
07-22-2011 10:06 AM
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Reply to: Message 90 by AZPaul3
07-22-2011 9:24 AM
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Re: Two Speculations
You got one you've heard somewhere haven't you? Just kick your shoes off, lean back, relax and join us. Lister travelled back in time and sneezed the universe into existence.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 90 by AZPaul3, posted 07-22-2011 9:24 AM | | AZPaul3 has seen this message but not replied |
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Dr Jack
Member Posts: 3514 From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch Joined: 07-14-2003 Member Rating: 8.3
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Message 116 of 366 (625693)
07-25-2011 5:47 AM
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Reply to: Message 103 by Chuck77
07-23-2011 2:48 AM
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Re: Purpose
Still no answer, huh?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 103 by Chuck77, posted 07-23-2011 2:48 AM | | Chuck77 has not replied |
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