Why is there something rather than nothing?
- Thread starter Damian
- Start date
PureX
Well-known member
I think that's actually an incoherent question. 'Something' and 'nothing' are binary conceptual elements created in our minds by the way our minds function. And each is completely meaningless without the other. They are the idea of 'this and that' applied to everything.
I'm not saying that it's inappropriate to ask such a question. We are humans, after all, and these are our brains doing what our brains do. But when we ask this kind of question: that brings us face to face with the paradox made inherent by our own conscious nature, we're going to have to expect no satisfactory answer.
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oatmeal
Well-known member
Genesis 1:1
so the real question
is
what are we doing here?
and
the answer
is
we are being tested
and
this is necessary due to our having free will
is
what are we doing here?
and
the answer
is
we are being tested
and
this is necessary due to our having free will
George Affleck
TOL Subscriber
How do you know it is something?
RobertoKarr
New member
Not all questions have answers, because questions are a product of the human imagination . We all know that not everything we imagine exists in reality. There's unicorns, Dracula, Frodo Baggins, non of them exist outside the human brains.
The same applies to questions. The fact that we can formulate a question (and even make up a poetical answer for it) doesn't make the question , nor the answer, a factual phenomenon.
Just try to answer the following questions and explain to me how is that proof of their reality?
Why are elves so bad tempered?
Why is it that every time you ride a unicorn a rainbow dies?
I know your question about "something" is not like my previous questions. In that "something" exists (unlike unicorns).
But what about "nothing"? Does nothing exist?.
What if "nothing" just doesn't exist. And everything is something.
What if "Nothing" is a product of the human imagination, and the question Why isn't "nothing" out there? or Why is there something , instead of nothing? is just as silly as asking why are there horses instead of unicorns?
The total energy of the universe is zero.
So neither you nor Liebniz have really established that there is 'something'.
Stuart
Aimiel
Well-known member
Why indeed. Obviously you have seen The Creator and know Him. You need to recognize that He has sent His Son to give you eternal life. Once you do that the rest is simple.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
That rather makes it sound like something people might find shameful.
I find it so.
Stuart
RobertoKarr
New member
If "something" has not being established then by reductio ad absurdum "nothing" prevails.
Thus the question "Why is there something instead of nothing?" is meaningless (in a world where only "nothing" exists).
Well... if there were nothing you wouldn't exist to pose the question....And I would not exist to posit a response....
Aimiel
Well-known member
When you stand before God on judgment day, you will be ashamed of the fact that you never acknowledged Him. That will be a shame, but it will be set, if you do not repent before your death.
The modal cosmological argument (contingency version) proves God using a similar concept. The universe either has to be contingent (caused by an external cause) or necessary existing as a result of its own nature. The universe has to have an explanation for its existence. Atheists have to show how and why it is impossible for the universe not to have existed. Good luck.
And what if your god stands before us on judgement day, and we judge it? How does it rate then?
Stuart
Sorry? The universe is limited to what? Atheists have to do what?
Your internal monologue needs to get out more.
Stuart
Wouldn't nothing be the absence of existence?
The "universe" is composed of all of space-time (all of mass and energy).
The universe is more likely to be contingent than necessary.
I've only defined "universe" like that. You could also name that the cosmos or whatever.
All the compositions of the universe is obviously contingent in nature. Why not the universe?