I have thought a lot about why there is something rather than nothing. It seems (to my brain at least) that the prime numbers have to exist, that they are necessary. I have speculated that perhaps after we understand all of physics we will come to realize that like the prime numbers, the universe must exist. I admit that I’m giving a mysterious answer to a mysterious question, sorry.
Interesting. I’m ignorant of math, but aren’t numbers just abstractions? And prime numbers exist within those abstractions?
Can you help me understand the parallel to the physical reality, and ultimate origins, of the universe?
...
I admit that I’m giving a mysterious answer to a mysterious question, sorry.
I have thought a lot about why there is something rather than nothing. It seems (to my brain at least)...
I appreciate your reply, as it pretty well sums up where I’m at. Can you take a stab at articulating why you (presumably) reject something like deism as an explanation for why there is something instead of nothing?
I also believe a perfect knowledge of physics will ultimately allow us to see clearly “why” and “how” the universe is the way it is, solving questions of origin in the process. But, in the meantime, I’m having a hard time dismissing the idea of a powerful intelligent creative entity a la deism, as it seems just as plausible as the other ideas I’m aware of.
On other note: It seems deism gets saddled with connotations of religion in discussions like this, and I don’t think this is fair or helpful in the discussion. If you would be intentional to avoid this in your response, I would appreciate it.
Look into the ideas of Tegmark, the Mathematical Universe Hypothesis. The central idea is that all possible mathematical structures exist. What we view as “the Universe” is just one set of equations with a particular set of boundary conditions, out of an infinite space of valid mathematical structures. The Universe exists because its existence is logically valid. That’s it.
Yes, this is my best guess as well. I reject deism because of Occam’s razor—the computational complexity of a conscious creator is rather high, although I think this might all be a computer simulation, although then the basement reality doesn’t have a conscious creator.
I have thought a lot about why there is something rather than nothing. It seems (to my brain at least) that the prime numbers have to exist, that they are necessary. I have speculated that perhaps after we understand all of physics we will come to realize that like the prime numbers, the universe must exist. I admit that I’m giving a mysterious answer to a mysterious question, sorry.
Interesting. I’m ignorant of math, but aren’t numbers just abstractions? And prime numbers exist within those abstractions?
Can you help me understand the parallel to the physical reality, and ultimate origins, of the universe?
...
I appreciate your reply, as it pretty well sums up where I’m at. Can you take a stab at articulating why you (presumably) reject something like deism as an explanation for why there is something instead of nothing?
I also believe a perfect knowledge of physics will ultimately allow us to see clearly “why” and “how” the universe is the way it is, solving questions of origin in the process. But, in the meantime, I’m having a hard time dismissing the idea of a powerful intelligent creative entity a la deism, as it seems just as plausible as the other ideas I’m aware of.
On other note: It seems deism gets saddled with connotations of religion in discussions like this, and I don’t think this is fair or helpful in the discussion. If you would be intentional to avoid this in your response, I would appreciate it.
Look into the ideas of Tegmark, the Mathematical Universe Hypothesis. The central idea is that all possible mathematical structures exist. What we view as “the Universe” is just one set of equations with a particular set of boundary conditions, out of an infinite space of valid mathematical structures. The Universe exists because its existence is logically valid. That’s it.
Yes, this is my best guess as well. I reject deism because of Occam’s razor—the computational complexity of a conscious creator is rather high, although I think this might all be a computer simulation, although then the basement reality doesn’t have a conscious creator.