The Universe

[AV1611VET]

The universe is more than a series of chain reactions.

True or False?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Events in the universe are a series of (not necessarily deterministic) chain reactions.

 

[Eudaimonist]

The universe is more than a series of chain reactions.

True or False?

False, because there are also kittens. But kittens can cause chain reactions.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[GrowingSmaller]

If the universe is a series of chain reactions we have an infinite regress or ingress (or both). Maybe an "uncountable set" of physical causes. Either looking out into space or inwards into atomic structure.

For, if it - the "set of the universe" - were to halt somewhere, then there would be an "event" or a with no cause. There being no "surrounding factors" or proximate causes next to the event...

We only have finite time and instruments to measure things, therefore an infinite universe cannot be known directly. So, theories are the best we have. And I think its the case that our theories - in science at least - can only really speculate on that grand kind of question at present.


To me, the fact that we can break things into two, indicates they are limited in some way. Otherwise they would just stretch out forever like foam from a compression tin.


Then again, a ruler (merasuring rure) represents an infinite set of centimetres, millimetres, nanometres etc. And rulers "map onto" reality", and evey ruler can be broken.

Not sure if the axiom of choice is relevant:

The axiom of choice says that if you have a set of objects and you separate the set into smaller sets, each containing at least one object, it is possible to take one object out of each of these smaller sets and make a new set.
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiom_of_choice

Another thought. Infinite sets are "equipollent" or "equinumerous". Zoom in and you still have an infinity. Zoom in again and you have an infinity. If life is finite, does that not say something about the universe? Life being like a zoom in on part of the universe. Life is quantized, therefore so is the universe.

For the atheist, usually, death is THE END. Atheists therefore live in a finite world, or so they think.

Then we have Zenos paradoxes to ponder I suppose i.e. how do we get through a day, if we have to go half way through it (to noon), and half again (afternoon), and half way again (sunset), and half way again etc etc etc...

Zenos paradoxes relate to infinity, and so we're back to square one.
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno's_paradoxes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supertask
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quantize

This all realtes to the OP in a roundabout way. But my guess would be if "no" (theres nothing more than cause upon cause) then we have an infinite iniverse, and if "yes" (such causes are not all) then the extra bit is nothingness, the point where creation - and talk of it - comes to a halt.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Well I certainly got that one off my chest. Im sorry theres no room left for social skills with the "outpouring" (TM).

 

[Eudaimonist]

Then we have Zenos paradoxes to ponder I suppose i.e. how do we get through a day, if we have to go half way through it (to noon), and half again (afternoon), and half way again (sunset), and half way again etc etc etc...

Is it still yesterday?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Not on paper at least. On paper I am stuck.

I dont feel like I am in a chain reaction, that would be something merely physical.

We are dislocated from the mechanics of the physical world, and act freely.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I dont feel like I am in a chain reaction, that would be something merely physical.

What would "feeling like one is in a chain reaction" feel like? Could it feel like how people feel like right now? I don't see why not.

We are dislocated from the mechanics of the physical world, and act freely.

Perhaps we act freely, but are still physical.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[jayem]

Particles in motion is a better description of the universe.

 

[AV1611VET]

Particles in motion is a better description of the universe.

Is that a reference to Browian motion as well?

 

[jayem]

Is that a reference to Browian motion as well?

I was thinking of elementary particles, fermions and bosons. But sure, Brownian motion is one way particles (usually much larger) behave.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Chain reactions are specific kinds in chemistry. Where the products become the reactants and so on until the process ends. The chemical universe would be a loose analogy of this I suppose, rether than "a stone being a stone, and just sitting there" being a example of a chain reaction.

Also talk of reactions seem to be reductions of what we see, whereas conscious life life seems to be irreducible. However I wonder what is reducible. If I read a book about photons, would I still not know what light is, if I were blind and reading braille? People say consciousness is irreducible, but pretty much everthing can be seen as irreducible because it is a content of consciousness.

What would "feeling like one is in a chain reaction" feel like? Could it feel like how people feel like right now? I don't see why not.

Maybe like an object in a test tube bubbling away. Theres a song "Im in the middle of a chain reaction" but thats poerty. Its like "the heart has its seasons" in the Grateful Dead tune. It gives us a mental image to associate life with, and see things symbolically. But if Heidegger started "Being and Time" with "man is a reactant in a test tube, bubbling away" he would not be the famous thinker he is.

Of course at "another level"....

 

[Colter]

The universe is more than a series of chain reactions.

True or False?

To analyze a chain reaction we must be apart from it. To analyze the material we must transcend it.