Are there questions that we just can never answer? - Page 2

FuturePilot · 06-12-2007

I have an example.
How can the universe go on forever? If you could travel through the universe, where would you be? If it goes on forever you can't be in the middle or near the edge. So where are you? Where are we right now?

bns · 06-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvacet

Not good example.Put somebody in the fridge and he will answer you.

Are you volunteering?

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaaarrrgg

These questions are like asking "How many Zorks are in a Blorg?"

Isn't it 18 Zorks per Blorg?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilya

As for the question of morality, there we might have some success. It might be possible to discover what kind of behavior truly results in optimal happiness and advancement for the human society, and model our ethics on it (really, that's what most philosophers attempt to do).

I still think you have the problem of figuring out what "optimal happiness" is. Do we use your definition or mine? I think that one is just as bad as the rest, though continuing to ask the question leads to progress IMO.

robert98374 · 06-12-2007

Can 2+1 really equal 4?

yaaarrrgg · 06-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bns

Isn't it 18 Zorks per Blorg?

That sounds right...

I was actually leaning towards 17!

Charbucks · 06-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert98374

Can 2+1 really equal 4?

For very large values of 1

... someone had to say it.

Zdravko · 06-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by wersdaluv

There are things that have been debated on, but are still not settled with answers. Among those things are the meaning of life, God's existence, what is truly moral, and all those things.

I just want to know your views on this.

Are there just things that we just can never answer?

What lies behind the edge of the universe?

Jasper84 · 06-12-2007

@Zdravko: There is no edge to the universe. There is no center either. The big bang did not have a center. It is not an explosion, in fact, the pressure at the big bang acted at 'gravitational mass' actually slowing the expansion of the universe down. This is expansion of space itself here, not of 'outward motion' of matter.
There is an edge to the past-lightcone(longest distance light came here), though. This is for long times not actually a cone, because the universe expands. (and has also in the past) Physicists assume that the universe is somewhat uniform, so things beyond our lightcone are very similar relative to what is here. It is still unknown if the universe might is infinite or finite, too. There could still be many suprises ahead too.

Charbucks · 06-12-2007

Jasper - are you absolutely sure of those things? Scientists are always very careful to present "evidence" for the big bang rather than "proof".

I'm not sure that it's a question we'll never be able to answer, but for now I don't think we can definitively say "yes, the universe was created in the big bang and is now oscillating" or "yes, the universe is continuously expanding" or "yes, the universe was sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkleseizure"

Jasper84 · 06-12-2007

@Charbucks: Well, i did add that there are suprises to be expected. I was just addressing the misconception that people sometimes have that the universe is an explosion with an edge. That is not what scientists mean when they say big bang. (Currently i think the idea that the expansion of the universe will accelerate is prevalent) I studied Physics, I do not think i have said anything beyond what i have learned.

Zdravko · 06-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper84

@Zdravko: There is no edge to the universe. There is no center either. The big bang did not have a center. It is not an explosion, in fact, the pressure at the big bang acted at 'gravitational mass' actually slowing the expansion of the universe down. This is expansion of space itself here, not of 'outward motion' of matter.
There is an edge to the past-lightcone(longest distance light came here), though. This is for long times not actually a cone, because the universe expands. (and has also in the past) Physicists assume that the universe is somewhat uniform, so things beyond our lightcone are very similar relative to what is here. It is still unknown if the universe might is infinite or finite, too. There could still be many suprises ahead too.

Nope, you can't say that.

OrangeCrate · 07-03-2007

Why Christians, Jews and Muslims worship the same God, but can't get along.

06-12-2007	#21 (permalink)
FuturePilot Lol Join Date: May 2007 Location: /home Posts: 358	Re: Are there questions that we just can never answer? I have an example. How can the universe go on forever? If you could travel through the universe, where would you be? If it goes on forever you can't be in the middle or near the edge. So where are you? Where are we right now?

06-12-2007	#27 (permalink)
Jasper84 under construction Join Date: May 2007 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Posts: 593	Re: Are there questions that we just can never answer? @Zdravko: There is no edge to the universe. There is no center either. The big bang did not have a center. It is not an explosion, in fact, the pressure at the big bang acted at 'gravitational mass' actually slowing the expansion of the universe down. This is expansion of space itself here, not of 'outward motion' of matter. There is an edge to the past-lightcone(longest distance light came here), though. This is for long times not actually a cone, because the universe expands. (and has also in the past) Physicists assume that the universe is somewhat uniform, so things beyond our lightcone are very similar relative to what is here. It is still unknown if the universe might is infinite or finite, too. There could still be many suprises ahead too.

06-12-2007	#28 (permalink)
Charbucks Needs a new custom title Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Onterrible, Canada Posts: 557	Re: Are there questions that we just can never answer? Jasper - are you absolutely sure of those things? Scientists are always very careful to present "evidence" for the big bang rather than "proof". I'm not sure that it's a question we'll never be able to answer, but for now I don't think we can definitively say "yes, the universe was created in the big bang and is now oscillating" or "yes, the universe is continuously expanding" or "yes, the universe was sneezed out of the nose of the Great Green Arkleseizure"

06-12-2007	#29 (permalink)
Jasper84 under construction Join Date: May 2007 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Posts: 593	Re: Are there questions that we just can never answer? @Charbucks: Well, i did add that there are suprises to be expected. I was just addressing the misconception that people sometimes have that the universe is an explosion with an edge. That is not what scientists mean when they say big bang. (Currently i think the idea that the expansion of the universe will accelerate is prevalent) I studied Physics, I do not think i have said anything beyond what i have learned.

07-03-2007	#31 (permalink)
OrangeCrate Eligible for a custom title Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,576	Re: Are there questions that we just can never answer? Why Christians, Jews and Muslims worship the same God, but can't get along.