The Universe Could Have Formed Spontaneously From Nothing

Post Reply New Topic

I have dreams like that sometimes. It can be my subconscious' / intuitive mind way of figuring something out and telling the conscious / intellectual mind something it has discovered. Sometimes my dreams are really bizarre and surreal and try to make sense of things thought about or encountered during the day - especially if they aren't related like a late night episode of Dexter being merged with planting some seeds in my garden. I've paid attention to such dreams ever since I was a student on placement with the British govt. doing some mathematical modelling / research. I'd hit a problem trying to work out the math to describe a huge array of some real world data points. The problem had been driving me nuts for over a week; then I had a dream where I saw the solution - it even woke me up I was so excited and scribbled some notes down. The following day I programmed the mathematical solution I'd dreamed into the Cray mainframe and it worked!

Ok, you can say that but then there's Godel's Theorem, which proves using math that any system of logic must be either incomplete or inconsistent.
So we know that mathematics, which is a system of logic, must be either incomplete or inconsistent, which is problem if the basis of reality is mathematics.

Got a way out of that nasty little catch-22?

You raise a good and interesting point. I'll have to ponder that. At first glance I wonder if this incompleteness or inconsistency is associated with uncertainty / random events at the quantum level?

I have a problem with irrational numbers. They are used to represent finite space in the real world, yet, they never end i.e., we can never know the *complete answer* to computing a finite space with the length of say the (square root of 2) , or Pi.

I'm not sure it makes sense to say that mathematics is the basis of reality. I prefer to simply say that mathematical models are a convenient tools for describing what we perceive as reality and just generally getting by in everyday life.

When a ball is thrown in the air, it's useful to know that the ball will follow a parabolic arc. If we know the initial velocity, we can then determine when it will land. So math helps answer practical questions about reality. (I guess I'm stating the obvious). But why does it follow a parabolic arc? One could answer this question and if they were to go very very deep into it they could go on for pages and pages and it would never end. Even though it's pretty simple if you just want to know the basics.

I wonder if Godel's theorem could be extended to show that the existence of God can never be proven or disproven.

Also, I don't think this article intends to make that connection. The short and long of it is, God has absolutely nothing to do with either math or logic. I'm not saying that be condescending to anyone. It's just that they are different realms. God is in fluffy fluffy bubble land and math anchors itself in reality. It's down and dirty like a cold hard autopsy bench. I'm just using a metaphor that doesn't make much sense.

Some people praise math like they praise God. I think math is beautiful but it's not God-like IMO.

None of this diminishes the importance of the work that was done by these physicists mentioned in the article. We're always learning more.

I wonder if nature is actually based on irrational numbers or just extremely tiny integers? i.e. plank length, plank time as the smallest units of length and time. Such a regime would result in a digital universe rather than an analogue one.

This is probably my second to last post. I think finishing on 2222 would be quite neat. Logical or illogical?


Anyway, Universe

how about it is an endless sea of awareness without beginning or end within which everything conceivable and inconceivable can and does exist in whatever way, form, shape, state etc. etc. possible and also impossible and improbable and other ..

So our perceivable Universe is like a pimple in this big matrix and it has it's own Rules and stuff, because ..well, have you ever played with toys? You immediately start laying down rules of existence as soon as you set to create any type of Universe, and it seems probable that the laws of the Universe will be reflected in everything in it, so, we extrapolate upwards, as it were. So maybe the Universe is expanding and contracting at the same time. Why not? Just because we would find it difficult to get our minds around that concept, it doesn't mean that it can't exist. Why? Because.

WELL..

there's a revolution orange going on 'write'
now for those who do not rely on ONLY symbols
to know..
WHAT IS..

FOR THOSE
who expand their being
beyond limited forms..
like letters..numbers..WORDS..
and math equations..
and the houses and clothing
they live in (!metaphor alert!)

that only provide a skeleton
and structure for communication
of ALLITIS..

That again..
IS much more for those who see..hear..
and speak..
without eyes..ears..or tongue...

The world is a much bigger place
than
a math book...

OH GOD..
THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE..
AT THE CORE LEVEL
OF
COMMON SENSE...

THERE ARE TOO MANY
WTF'S HERE...

THEY MAKE MY HEAD WANT TO EXPLODE..;)

but not my brain...:)
and haha..that's just a metaphor2..
i am at complete bliss and peace STILL...:)

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE BANGING ONE'S HEAD
ON A BRICK WALL..
TO ATTEMPT TO BREAK THROUGH
'A' WALL...;)

http://katiemiafrederick.com/2014/04/14 ... ion-orange

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU-U[/youtube]

Well no, it has to do with the fact that in every system of logic you can say the equivalent of 'This sentence is a lie.' and it will parse logically but it's an infinite loop.
Actually, it was an unfair question and I apologize for the ambush.
I just thought you were overreaching a bit with your statement about mathematics being the basis of reality and so I thought I'd throw a little irrationality your way to keep you on your toes.

There's actually a simple way out of it:
Since we have access to many different systems of logic we can generally cover all contingencies, just not within a single system.

@LoveNotHate:
Irrational numbers can be represented concretely as ratios of rational numbers and in relation to each other.
After all, e^(pi*i) = -1.
There's a direct relationship between the two main irrational mathematical constants and the square root of -1, an imaginary number.

When I was young, I used to think that if I learned enough, dug deep enough, that I'd eventually find some deeper meaning of or at least explanation for the world.
I looked in math.
I looked in physics.
I looked in philosophy.

However, it wasn't until I combined them that I came to any decent understanding of why the world is the way it is, how it exists as it does, and generally what to expect from it.
Unfortunately, it's not really an insight I've been able to successfully share with anyone who hadn't already gotten there themselves because it involves strange, counter-intuitive mathematical theories applied to modern physics & ancient philosophy in a particular way to obtain what I can only describe as a deep understanding of reality, one which I spent years in pursuit of and at times thought I'd never find.

I'm not saying I'm special or that this insight has any immediately practical applications, or even that it's mine alone, but it does give me a great sense of comfort to be able to look at the world and have it make sense from the bottom up.
Interestingly, if a mathematician/physicist with a few decades to spare took the time to do the necessary math, I'm pretty sure it points the way to the keys to the kingdom, so to speak, the ultimate levels on reality, it's machine language if you will.
Of course, such knowledge, especially if applied while still incomplete, could be horribly dangerous, so I'm glad that for now it's just me and a few other eccentrics who have stumbled upon it.
We're just not mature enough as a species for that stuff yet, imho.

One day, though, if our species lasts that long, it'll still be waiting.

Well..i'll have to say i agree with most of what you are saying here..

But the difference IS

I know the KEYS..

I apply them to my life..

and OH MY GOD YES..!

THERE ARE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS..

AND YES THERE IS PROOF..!

IT IS THE PUDDING THAT IS ME..!

THAT I CREATE..THROUGH THIS HIGHER POWER..!

And nah..
i ain't self obsessed..

i am selfless..
one creating
with ONE
in the KINGDOM
NOW
ruling it with
FREE WILL..!
IT'S REAL.. IT EXISTS..!
BUT GOD YES..!
HARD TO OBTAIN...!
AND FINALLY FOR ME
GETTING THERE
@53..
WITH A 'REASONABLY' IMPOSSIBLE
NUMBER AND QUALITY OF OBSTACLES...
IN DIFFICULTY..

By the way..ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR
AVATAR..IN SURREAL BALANCE...;)

OF YIN
AND
YANG..
AS ABOVE
SO
BELOW
IN
BALANCE
2

http://katiemiafrederick.com/2014/04/14 ... e-4elohim/

You seem to be referring to a spiritual/philosophical concept about balance.
I wasn't talking about anything of the sort.

I'm referring to understanding how systems work, mathematically speaking, and applying that to everything.
Interestingly, they work by being in a state of perpetual imbalance, though a meta-stable imbalace that tends towards homeostasis rather than equilibrium as the law of entropy would have you believe.

I wish you well though, as you seem to have found your peace with the world, which is arguably better than merely understanding it.

oh, you just made me all weak at the knees

I think mathematics needs a new number, a variable and fluctuating absolute 0

i realize that...

i already have your half...

long ago..as an academic..
with 3 degrees and all of that...

smiles...and grins..

is part of the other...
half...
and a small part of a very large half....:);)

And thank you for the kinds words..
after having understanding for years..

i realize now..
It truly is worthless

without practical
application..

IN REAL LIFE
NOW.

So why does our mathematical system exclude the existence of the divine? We have developed a mathematical language to explain phenomenon, but that doesn't mean there isn't a greater power that we don't and can't understand.

I am pretty certain that it does not and I would go farther as to say it probably never will.

Kurt Godel, the famous mathematician mentioned earlier in this thread, was a theist himself who strangely enough suggested an ontological proof of God's existence. I always find it strange when people try to connect math and rationality with God, I think that it is where a lot of the confusion and anger comes in on both sides. Why does God have to be rational?

The myth goes that Pythagoras threw Hippassus off the boat they were on for proving irrational numbers exist. Pythagoras felt such imperfection disgusted the GODs. Mathematicians like rationality and perfection.

I wonder if Pythagoras was an Aspie perfectionist