Time does not exist separately from space, as Einstein demonstrated almost a century ago.
Dreaded Anomaly Send a noteboard - 01/12/2010 03:36:56 AM
Logic, empirical evidence, and the scientific method are undoubtedly useful, and they can explain our immediate surroundings quite well, but they are inadequate when taken to the extremes.
For instance, you can follow a trail of evidence back through time to the Big Bang, and then it breaks down. What caused that explosion? Where did it come from? The cyclical universe theory can push back further, but there must at some point have been a beginning.
If there was a beginning, what caused it? If not, what was there before? There are really only three possibilities. The first is that the universe came into being out of nothing, in violation of the laws of physics. The second is that the universe itself is eternal and has always existed in one form or another. The third is that it was created by a higher power.
There is not, and I suspect that there never can be, any empirical evidence to prove or disprove any of those possibilities. No matter what sort of reality you choose to believe in, you believe in it by faith.
Since you're free to place your faith in anything you wish, you could of course choose to believe in the eternal house cat that is the universe, and that would indeed be just as valid a conception of true reality as any that you can reach through evidence alone.
For instance, you can follow a trail of evidence back through time to the Big Bang, and then it breaks down. What caused that explosion? Where did it come from? The cyclical universe theory can push back further, but there must at some point have been a beginning.
If there was a beginning, what caused it? If not, what was there before? There are really only three possibilities. The first is that the universe came into being out of nothing, in violation of the laws of physics. The second is that the universe itself is eternal and has always existed in one form or another. The third is that it was created by a higher power.
There is not, and I suspect that there never can be, any empirical evidence to prove or disprove any of those possibilities. No matter what sort of reality you choose to believe in, you believe in it by faith.
Since you're free to place your faith in anything you wish, you could of course choose to believe in the eternal house cat that is the universe, and that would indeed be just as valid a conception of true reality as any that you can reach through evidence alone.
The laws of physics only apply within the universe. Trying to apply them "outside" or "before" the universe is simply nonsensical, because those spatial and temporal concepts only exist as part of the universe.
It's irrational to believe in something without a reason, i.e. evidence (or a logical proof whose assumptions fit known evidence). No evidence or logic suggests the universe has any human characteristics (or cat characteristics, just to be thorough), so there is no reason to believe that.
Is NASA set to reveal on Thursday signs of possible extraterrestial life within the solar system?
30/11/2010 03:49:40 AM
- 1121 Views
photsynthesis using arsnic hmm I am going to have to check this out
30/11/2010 05:07:22 AM
- 728 Views
If there is life in the solar system then it is likely a natural development in the universe.
30/11/2010 05:12:38 AM
- 640 Views
Re: If there is life in the solar system then it is likely a natural development in the universe.
30/11/2010 05:18:05 AM
- 796 Views
Seems to put atheists in a bit of a catch-22 there.
30/11/2010 05:54:25 AM
- 763 Views
Bwa?
30/11/2010 06:45:33 AM
- 691 Views
Well, I don't actually agree with the first part of your Catch-22. At least, not entirely.
30/11/2010 02:43:13 PM
- 731 Views
Using anthropomorphic terms to describe the universe only reflects on you, not on the universe. *NM*
30/11/2010 07:31:04 PM
- 310 Views
What an arbitrary and meaningless statement. *NM*
30/11/2010 07:52:13 PM
- 247 Views
Anthropomorphizing concepts is a cognitive bias.
30/11/2010 11:19:23 PM
- 595 Views
Only given a certain metaphysical framework.
01/12/2010 12:18:09 AM
- 638 Views
Mind dumbing that down a bit?
01/12/2010 12:43:47 AM
- 577 Views
I think he is saying
01/12/2010 01:26:34 AM
- 773 Views
In short, demanding that everyone use your particular worldview is unfair.
01/12/2010 02:21:26 AM
- 673 Views

Those worldviews are unsupported by empirical evidence.
01/12/2010 01:41:27 AM
- 749 Views
Empiricism is unsupported by empirical evidence. *NM*
01/12/2010 02:21:52 AM
- 257 Views
Empirical evidence is the only objective standard.
01/12/2010 02:59:18 AM
- 636 Views
Empirical evidence cannot fully explain reality.
01/12/2010 03:28:41 AM
- 713 Views
Re: Question (use google now!): what's the net energy of the universe?
01/12/2010 03:35:57 AM
- 659 Views
Time does not exist separately from space, as Einstein demonstrated almost a century ago.
01/12/2010 03:36:56 AM
- 719 Views
I have my own theories about time, but they're not ready for presentation yet
01/12/2010 03:56:38 AM
- 981 Views
Re: I have my own theories about time, but they're not ready for presentation yet
01/12/2010 04:30:44 AM
- 1030 Views
Hey, there's a name I recognize, "Iron Lisa"
30/11/2010 09:25:01 AM
- 715 Views
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
30/11/2010 02:33:30 PM
- 673 Views
I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords. *NM*
30/11/2010 02:35:04 PM
- 257 Views
"I, for one, welcome our new INSECT overlords"!
01/12/2010 12:40:27 AM
- 650 Views
but we don't know if they're insects yet!
01/12/2010 12:55:52 AM
- 593 Views
I'll not bow to any mere Bacterial Overlords, Eukaryote Overlords only!!! *NM*
01/12/2010 01:02:20 AM
- 263 Views
So you're prejudiced against the nuclearly challenged?
01/12/2010 01:09:57 AM
- 607 Views
It's this kind of blind adherence to political correctness that is tearing us apart!
01/12/2010 01:28:39 AM
- 587 Views
They had better have a green man *NM*
30/11/2010 10:45:56 AM
- 229 Views
Because you need somebody to attack Aginor and Balthamel? *NM*
01/12/2010 01:04:23 AM
- 233 Views
Oh no you didn't
*NM*
01/12/2010 01:14:55 AM
- 230 Views
