If you were to create a universe

  • Thread starter Freeman Dyson
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In summary: I personally don't see it happening any time soon. I guess it could be possible god would decide to give up almighty power to an ant... It is possible isn't it?
  • #1
Freeman Dyson
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Let's say we could create our own universe. Just for the normal scientific reasons...to see what happens/to see if it is possible. So we create some kind of "desktop" universe, something like what Linde and Guth talk about, and eventually conscious beings form and start to inquire about that universe.

The question is: Does this universe have purpose, and what would it be? What answer could be given when these creatures inside the universe start to ask "why"?
 
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  • #2
Freeman Dyson said:
Let's say we could create our own universe. Just for the normal scientific reasons...to see what happens/to see if it is possible. So we create some kind of "desktop" universe, something like what Linde and Guth talk about, and eventually conscious beings form and start to inquire about that universe.

The question is: Does this universe have purpose, and what would it be? What answer could be given when these creatures inside the universe start to ask "why"?


"If we do discover a theory of everything...it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would truly know the mind of God."

Stephen Hawking
 
  • #3
Just tell them what they want to hear.
 
  • #4
WaveJumper said:
"If we do discover a theory of everything...it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would truly know the mind of God."

Stephen Hawking

If you could comprehend higher intelligence, you would be higher intelligence. I think for us to know the true mind of God or any higher intelligence we would have to be on that level ourselves. Our minds could not only differ in degree, but in kind.

What will mind choose to do when it informs and controls the universe? That is a question which we cannot hope to answer. When mind has expanded its physical reach and its biological organization by many powers of ten beyond the human scale, we can no more expect to understand its thoughts and dreams than a Monarch butterfly can understand ours. Mind can answer our question only as God answered Job out of the whirlwind, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"

In contemplating the future of mind in the universe, we have exhausted the resources of our puny human science. This is the point at which science ends and theology begins.

-Freeman Dyson
 
  • #5
Freeman Dyson said:
If you could comprehend higher intelligence, you would be higher intelligence. I think for us to know the true mind of God or any higher intelligence we would have to be on that level ourselves. Our minds could not only differ in degree, but in kind.



-Freeman Dyson




I agree. Although it may lie in the very far future, it doesn't conradict what i take to be a real possibility for our transition from wild animal to human to ... (place your own perspective of what a god is supposed to be like). The transition is ongoing, though we are still more on the animalish side.
 
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  • #6
WaveJumper said:
I agree. Although it may lie in the very far future, it doesn't conradict what i take to be a real possibility for our transition from pure animal to human to ... (place your own perspective of what a god is supposed to be like). The transition is ongoing, though we are still more on the animalish side.

I'm thinking maybe we become God in the far future too. Like we grow into it eventually. It is our destiny. It is our deepest identity and highest potential. One isn't born a God. It takes a long time. We have to be ready.

"God is a metaphor for that which trancends all levels of intellectual thought. It's as simple as that."

-Joseph Campbell.

"People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive. That's what it's all finally about. "

-Joseph Campbell

I agree with that. We have a feeling that our deepest indentity is something else. Not quite yet realized. Something greater than what it appears to be now. Do you have that feeling?

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

-CS Lewis
 
  • #7
I find your idea of man becoming god funny on many levels. I personally don't see it happening any time soon. I guess it could be possible god would decide to give up almighty power to an ant... It is possible isn't it?
 
  • #8
magpies said:
I find your idea of man becoming god funny on many levels. I personally don't see it happening any time soon. I guess it could be possible god would decide to give up almighty power to an ant... It is possible isn't it?

Well we already make computer simulations of entire universes... I one time played god in a computer game Black and White... that was fun. I don't see why this concept is funny and I don't see why humans can't transcend to 'god' level.
 
  • #9
The answer to that is... because god is already there. If you can find a way to behead god and take over his job then I guess its possible. Playing god in a computer game is nothing like being god imo.
 
  • #10
magpies said:
The answer to that is... because god is already there. If you can find a way to behead god and take over his job then I guess its possible. Playing god in a computer game is nothing like being god imo.

Well if we create a univeres simulation and make it build life then how are we not gods?
 
  • #11
magpies said:
The answer to that is... because god is already there. If you can find a way to behead god and take over his job then I guess its possible. Playing god in a computer game is nothing like being god imo.

I am not assuming a God already exists though. But assuming there is, we wouldn't be taking over. We would be equals.
 
  • #12
To Sorry!... Because it is only a simulation I suppose.

To Freeman Dyson... Assuming a god does not already exist will lead you to acting differently then if you did assume a god exists. Just as changing your mind on any issue would. Do you understand what assuming a god doesn't exist does to you?

Also if a god does exist it is possible that god would be ok with being equals and of course its also possible that god would not be ok. I think it really depends on the type of god you think exists. I would personally not bet on it being ok with someone like me being an equal with it. With my understanding of god I would say the possiblity of me ever being an equal with is zero. That does imply that I am less special but still special and I'll take that greatfully.
 
  • #13
Why couldn't God have evolved? Maybe "he" started out as small and with as humble roots as we did. Maybe he is still evolving.
 

FAQ: If you were to create a universe

What is the purpose of creating a universe?

The purpose of creating a universe is to explore the possibilities of existence and to gain a deeper understanding of the laws and principles that govern the world we live in. It also allows for the potential development of life and the exploration of different forms of life and their interactions.

How would you determine the physical laws and properties of the universe?

The physical laws and properties of the universe would be determined through extensive research, observation, and experimentation. This would involve studying the behavior of matter and energy, as well as conducting experiments to test various theories and hypotheses.

What factors would you consider in creating a universe?

In creating a universe, factors such as the initial conditions, the laws of physics, and the potential for the development of life would need to be carefully considered. Other factors may include the dimensions of the universe, the presence of dark matter and energy, and the potential for the evolution of the universe over time.

Would there be multiple universes or just one?

This is a topic of ongoing debate and speculation in the scientific community. Some theories suggest the possibility of multiple universes, each with their own set of physical laws and properties. Others propose the idea of a single, ever-expanding universe. The answer to this question remains unknown and is still being explored.

How would you ensure the sustainability and balance of the universe?

Ensuring the sustainability and balance of the universe would require careful consideration and management. This may involve regulating the distribution of matter and energy, maintaining a stable environment for life to thrive, and monitoring potential threats to the universe such as black holes or collisions with other galaxies. It would also involve continuously adapting and adjusting as the universe evolves over time.

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