A Scenario for a Natural Origin of Our Universe Using a Mathematical Model Based on Established Physics and Cosmology

Autor: V. J. Stenger
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: Philo. 9:93-102
ISSN: 1098-3570
DOI: 10.5840/philo2006928
Popis: A mathematical model of the natural origin of our universe is presented. The model is based only on well-established physics. No claim is made that this model uniquely represents exactly how the universe came about. But the viability of a single model serves to refute any assertions that the universe cannot have come about by natural means. Why is there something rather than nothing? This question is often the last resort of the theist who seeks to argue for the existence of God from physics and cosmology and finds all his other arguments fail. Philosopher Bede Rundle calls it "philosophy's central, and most perplexing, question." His simple (but book-length) answer, "There has to be something." Clearly many conceptual problems are associated with this question. How do we define "nothing"? What are its properties? If it has properties, doesn't that make it something? The theist claims that God is the answer. But, then, why is there God rather than nothing? Assuming we can define "nothing," why should nothing be a more natural state of affairs than something? In fact, we can give a plausible scientific reason based on
Databáze: OpenAIRE