Why does the universe exist?

[lajoswinkler]

While it would seem tempting to see something solid like 4) or 6), not only it doesn't bring an end to answers, but it also lacks something beautiful? It's like when kids ask: "Why?" after every answer you give them. You can say "because that's how the world works", and while it is a correct answer, it doesn't give new information. It has no value.

The problem is, as czokletmuss correctly pointed out, ontological. It can not be grasped as a whole.

I must admit I'd be relieved to see 3). It doesn't have to be a stoner. Imagine, you or the probe pass the singularity and you encounter an entity which self-made purpose is also to wonder "why?" and offers you a gesture of friendship. How magnificent is that?

[Diche Bach]

10) Santa Claus and his elves

[chri]

I found this video on the argument really interesting..thought I could share it here

[Monkeh]

Nice video. He makes a good case. It doesn't stop the actual creation from being a wilful event in some way though. Think I'll have a look at some more of his vids too.

[Person012345]

Why, you ask...

why not?

This. The true answer s that we don't know for sure, but it could well be that nothing will necessarily give rise to something because that's just the way it is. The laws of physics are just that way.

There are other theories too of course.

[Person012345]

By the way, any theory you make regarding the beginning of the universe is likely to be very silly and ignorant unless you're very well educated in things like quantum physics and so on. I'm not saying don't try, I'm saying that at least recognise that theories made by renowned scientists who have studied the field for years are likely to be better than yours with regards to the facts even if they sound stupid and nonsensical.

[Monkeh]

Yeah of course. The 3d 'branes colliding in 4d space is from Brian Greene's The elegant universe. Awesome string theory book. My imagination isn't good enough to come up with my own.

Black hole factory - Stephen Baxter

Ream of universes - Brian Greene

Science experiment gone wrong, or right I suppose - Greg Egan

Stoner with tea - yeah ok, that one was mine

Yes I realise 2 of those people are sci fi authors but they both keep very up to date with current thinking.

Despite appearences, I'm not a total retard.

Edited August 29, 2013 by Monkeh

[lajoswinkler]

By the way, any theory you make regarding the beginning of the universe is likely to be very silly and ignorant unless you're very well educated in things like quantum physics and so on. I'm not saying don't try, I'm saying that at least recognise that theories made by renowned scientists who have studied the field for years are likely to be better than yours with regards to the facts even if they sound stupid and nonsensical.

Hypothesis. You can't "make a theory". Developing theories requires time and empirical evidence. That's why I don't like when some stuff from quantum mechanics is called a theory. It works on paper, therefore it's a hypothesis.

[magnemoe]

Hypothesis. You can't "make a theory". Developing theories requires time and empirical evidence. That's why I don't like when some stuff from quantum mechanics is called a theory. It works on paper, therefore it's a hypothesis.

Huge part of quantum mechanics is based on experiments many like the mosfet transistor who its some billions of in the computer you posted on tend to work in real life.

Yes it could be small demons who work after quantum mechanic rules but it works well enough to build an 32 nm transistor, yes they invented the transistor before they understand how it worked.

About the origin about the universe, lots of knowledge make you look less stupid, you are probably still very wrong, but its better to land on the wrong continent on Kerbin then returning from Jool than to land on Eve.

[Person012345]

Hypothesis. You can't "make a theory". Developing theories requires time and empirical evidence.

Wat. First of all I was using it colloquially not in the scientific sense. Secondly, if we can't make theories then where do theories come from?

That's why I don't like when some stuff from quantum mechanics is called a theory. It works on paper, therefore it's a hypothesis.

Define "some stuff". I though quantum theory and quantum field theory were in fact theories and that "some things" in them aren't proven (much like black holes weren't proven when einstein made relativity, nor was time dilation or gravitational lensing and so on),.

[stringyquark]

You think to hard, the answer is quite simple.

From measures of the microwave background radiation we can see that it is (more or less) evenly distributed. Simple conclusion is that I am the center of the universe and it was made just for me.

[Kerbface]

"Who created the universe?"

"That... is not important."

"Tell me!"

"Alright... it was... Slatrtibartfast."

"What?"

"I told you it wasn't important."

[Chrisd857]

I'm not sure where we are in the count for black hole interior ideas but:

* In a special one, three individual singularities within the event horizon, orbiting each other superluminally, surrounded with a warp-speed event horizon. - some Star Trek book, I think

* We find that the degenerate stellar body has not in fact reached infinite density (or infinite anything) and our math was just wrong

* The singularity forced open some extra dimensions so that nothing is infinite

* ...well, these last don't seem that interesting now, but the first one was pretty good

[DaveofDefeat]

because we observe it

[lajoswinkler]

Huge part of quantum mechanics is based on experiments many like the mosfet transistor who its some billions of in the computer you posted on tend to work in real life.

Yes it could be small demons who work after quantum mechanic rules but it works well enough to build an 32 nm transistor, yes they invented the transistor before they understand how it worked.

About the origin about the universe, lots of knowledge make you look less stupid, you are probably still very wrong, but its better to land on the wrong continent on Kerbin then returning from Jool than to land on Eve.

Wat. First of all I was using it colloquially not in the scientific sense. Secondly, if we can't make theories then where do theories come from?

Define "some stuff". I though quantum theory and quantum field theory were in fact theories and that "some things" in them aren't proven (much like black holes weren't proven when einstein made relativity, nor was time dilation or gravitational lensing and so on),.

I was thinking about things like m-branes and other purely hypothetical stuff from theoretical physics. Those things are more math than physics. I'm not saying they're worthless crap, but they shouldn't be called theories.

because we observe it

Ahhh, bull**** of the modern ages.

[chri]

Nice video. He makes a good case. It doesn't stop the actual creation from being a wilful event in some way though. Think I'll have a look at some more of his vids too.

The channel is minutephysics, but that video was a special with Neil deGrasse Tyson as "guest", so you won't find the same narrator in the other videos of him, they're very enjoyable anyway

[hugix]

The universe is created s we could ask why it has been created.

[Person012345]

I was thinking about things like m-branes and other purely hypothetical stuff from theoretical physics. Those things are more math than physics. I'm not saying they're worthless crap, but they shouldn't be called theories.

I more had things like virtual particles in mind.

[littlebattler]

We're in a reality show watched by 4 dimensional beings for entertainment. It's a show where puny 3D species try to survive on a planet. They're actually rigging the odds against us to keep things interesting. We're not even the prime time show, that time slot belongs to a planet orbiting a star we don't even see because it's too young and far away. That planet has been reduced to a hippie utopia where all the inhabitants are permanently stoned and ratings are dropping fast.

Either that or we just don't know yet and I think it's silly for me to go into random assumptions without enough data. Crackpot theories amuse me though.

[SpaceHole]

The universe is created s we could ask why it has been created.

Its funny how narcissistic humans are.

Universe:

about 13.77 billion years old

13,700,000,000 years

First human-like creatures:

about 2.3 Million years ago

2,300,000 years

So humans life makes up about 0.015788 percent of the age of the universe.

Yeah everything rotates around us we are so important ...

(not to mention that we should probably compare the stats for modern humans ...)

We're in a reality show watched by 4 dimensional beings for entertainment. It's a show where puny 3D species try to survive on a planet. They're actually rigging the odds against us to keep things interesting. We're not even the prime time show, that time slot belongs to a planet orbiting a star we don't even see because it's too young and far away. That planet has been reduced to a hippie utopia where all the inhabitants are permanently stoned and ratings are dropping fast.

Either that or we just don't know yet and I think it's silly for me to go into random assumptions without enough data. Crackpot theories amuse me though.

I doubt anyone would want to watch beeings killing and torturing themselves making up stories for decades and discriminating each other ...

Also as others said there are no answers to such questions. Thats like questioning about a stones motivation.

Anyhow most answers will be about how great and important humans are - since thats how we are - the earth sadlys isnt the center of the solar system but at least humans seem to be the center of the complete universe ...

Edited August 30, 2013 by SpaceHole

[littlebattler]

Its funny how narcissistic humans are.

Universe:

about 13.77 billion years old

13,700,000,000 years

First human-like creatures:

about 2.3 Million years ago

2,300,000 years

So humans life makes up about 0.015788 percent of the age of the universe.

Yeah everything rotates around us we are so important ...

(not to mention that we should probably compare the stats for modern humans ...)

I doubt anyone would want to watch beeings killing and torturing themselves making up stories for decades and discriminating each other ...

Of course it's important. If we don't think of ourselves as important, no one else will. People killing each other and **** is also a great premise for reality shows, as fiction has taught us.

[SpaceHole]

Of course it's important. If we don't think of ourselves as important, no one else will. People killing each other and **** is also a great premise for reality shows, as fiction has taught us.

There is a difference between thinking of yourself and others humans as important in a normal context and thinking you are the center of the universe ...

We are important - to each other - peoples lives are important in their personal and friends point of view. But not in such a ridiculous point of view.

The universe will continue even if mankind ceases to exist.

And yeah for a reality show watched by humans sadly. Are you amused by watching ants?

Point is a species capable of doing such things would probably not do them in the first place and would not be anything like humans.

Edited August 30, 2013 by SpaceHole

[Holo]

Its funny how narcissistic humans are.

Universe:

about 13.77 billion years old

13,700,000,000 years

First human-like creatures:

about 2.3 Million years ago

2,300,000 years

So humans life makes up about 0.015788 percent of the age of the universe.

A trillion years is merely an imperceptible fraction of the time left in the universe. Maybe it's only 0.01% so far, but in a billion years?

[ZedNova]

There is no reason unless you're religious.

[leax256]

related question.

If the fundemental laws of science says that matter and energy cannot be created nor destroyed then how did matter and energy exist in the first place?