The origin of the Universe

in science and philosophyin science and philosophy

Every, even the smallest, success scored by science is a sort ofEvery, even the smallest, success scored by science is a sort of promise that promise that somewhere, maybe still asomewhere, maybe still a very far way off beyond very far way off beyond a runaway horizon, lies the a runaway horizon, lies the ultimate explanation.ultimate explanation.

Part One: In Science

How, when, and why did the Universe come into being?

The reason why matter evenly scattered through a finite space wouldconvene in the midst you conceive the same with me, but that thereshould be a central particle so accurately placed in the middle as to be always equally attracted on all sides, and thereby continue without motion, seems to me a supposition as fully as hard as to make thesharpest needle stand upright on its point upon a looking glass.

And much harder is to suppose all the particles in an infinite space should be so accurately poised one among another as to stand still in a perfect equilibrium. For I recon this is as hard as to make, not oneneedle only, but an infinite number of them stand accurately poised upon their poits.

Isaak Newton to Richard Bentley (1693):

Gravitational instability – black hole

NGC4262

Gravitational instability – Big Bang

WHAT IS THE INITIAL SINGULARITY?

NGC 4261

Below Plnck’s threshold:Below Plnck’s threshold:

Quantum gravity and superunification of forces:Quantum gravity and superunification of forces:

- Superstring theory (M-theory)- Superstring theory (M-theory)

- Loop theory- Loop theory

- Qantum groups- Qantum groups

- Noncommutative geometry- Noncommutative geometry

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The tacit assumption is that the laws of physics are The tacit assumption is that the laws of physics are valid before we start constructing the creation valid before we start constructing the creation model.model.

BUT WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICSBUT WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICSCOME FROM?COME FROM?

PART TWO:

In philosophy

Why is there something rather than Why is there something rather than nothing?nothing? After all, After all, nothingnothing is simpler and is simpler and easier than easier than somethingsomething..

G.W. Leibniz, G.W. Leibniz, “Principles of Nature and Grace,“Principles of Nature and Grace,

Based on Reason,”Based on Reason,”

The doctrine of creationThe doctrine of creation is a philosophical attempt to answer is a philosophical attempt to answerthis question.this question.

Greek ideas concerning the genesis of the universe:- Atomists – no beginning, casual events- Aristotle – no beginning, teleology- Plato (‘Timaeus’) – out of chaos

Its sources:

Bible – Old TestamentBible – Old Testament• Gen. 1Gen. 1• Book of Machabees, 7:28Book of Machabees, 7:28. I beseech thee, my . I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and consider that all that is in them, and consider that God made them out of nothingGod made them out of nothing, and , and mankind also. mankind also. So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy partner with but being made a worthy partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may receive thee again that mercy I may receive thee again with thy brethren. with thy brethren.

St. Augustine, Confessions, book 11

See, I answer him that asketh, "What did God before He made heaven and earth?" I answer not as one is said to have done merrily (eluding the pressure of the question), "He was preparing hell (saith he) for pryers into mysteries." It is one thing to answer enquiries, another to make sport of enquirers.

For that very time didst Thou make, nor could times pass by, before Thou madest those times. But if before heaven and earth there was no time, why is it demanded, what Thou then didst? For there was no "then," when there was no time.

There is no contradiction in asserting that the world is created, but has no beginning.

Creation is a relationship between the creature and the Creartor consisting of the continual dependence (in the existence) of the creature on the Creator.

‘DE AETERNITATE MUNDI (contra murmurantes)Let us assume, in accordance with the Catholic faith, that the world hada beginning in time. The question still arises whether the world could have always existed...’

St. Thomas Aquinas

‘Absolute space, in its own nature, without regard to anything external, remains always similar and immovable’

‘I hold space to be something merely relative, as time is; . . . For space denotes, in terms of possibility, an order to things which exist at the same time, considered as existing together."

‘Absolute, true and mathematical time,of itself, and from its own nature flows equably without regard to anything external, and by another name is called duration’

Newton:

Leibniz:

Newton:- Eternity = existence from temporal ‘minus infinity’ to temporal ‘plus infinity’- Creation in time

Leibniz:- Eternity = atemporal existence- Creation with time

Present popular view follow Newton

- - Why is there something Why is there something rather rather

than nothing?than nothing? - Why is the Universe comprehensible?- Why is the Universe comprehensible?

My proposal:

This is the mystery we shall never comprehend

Einstein

The mystery of existence is the same as the mysteryThe mystery of existence is the same as the mysteryof comprehensibilityof comprehensibility

The world is rational in the sense thatit can rationally be investigated

LogosLogos (λόγος) was an important term in Greek philosophy. (λόγος) was an important term in Greek philosophy.HeraclitusHeraclitus established the term in Western philosophy as established the term in Western philosophy as meaning both the meaning both the source and fundamental order of the cosmossource and fundamental order of the cosmos. . The The sophistssophists used the term to mean discourse, and used the term to mean discourse, and AristotleAristotleapplied the term to rational discourse. The applied the term to rational discourse. The StoicStoic philosophers philosophers identified the term with the divine animating principle pervading identified the term with the divine animating principle pervading the Universethe Universe. Philo of Alexandria. Philo of Alexandria adopted the term into Jewish adopted the term into Jewishphilosophyphilosophy. .

The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as the incarnation of the Logos, the incarnation of the Logos, through which everything is created.through which everything is created.

In the beginning was the Word (In the beginning was the Word (LogosLogos),),and the Word was with God,and the Word was with God,and the Word was God.and the Word was God.

All things were made by him;All things were made by him;and without him was not any thing madeand without him was not any thing madethat was made.that was made.

John 1.1

John 1,1-3

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LOGOS of the Universe

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