Dimensions of Universe
To begin, consider the universe of outer space. I first started using the word
as I learned about astronomy. I believe this is what most people have in mind
when they say universe. Countless trillions of stars, planets, moons, nebula,
and so on are all brought to mind at once by a single word. This together with
the wonder of knowing that there are other things out there we have no idea of yet.
In further consideration, beyond the universe of the vastly large, there is a
universe of the infinitesimally small. As we learned about molecules and atoms,
we started to understand that the universe of the small was as complex as the
universe of outer space. Indeed we have discovered a vast array of sub-atomic
particles and have postulated how they combine and interact in ways to explain
things that we hope to understand.
As we consider the origin of the vast universe in outer space we reflect that
everything out there is probably made of the same and similar molecules, atoms,
sub-atomic particles, etc, as we find here on earth. Therefore the origin of
the vast universe in outer space is completely bound to the origin of the
universe of the small. As we have studied the universe of the small, we have
discovered, like the universe of outer space, that it is also mostly empty space.
In fact, any substance you may wish to consider is mostly empty space. The solid
nature of a piece of steel or anything else you may want to consider is an effect
provided by the electric force that binds the atoms in the substance together.
Some would say, and they have some basis in fact for their observation, that the
way we observe matter is an illusion. That is, we perceive solids to be as they
seem to us because we can not sense the space between the particles that make up
the items we see and touch.
Another universe, is the universe of thought. In philosophy, we record and
preserve the beliefs and understandings of human kind. Those beliefs and
understandings are critiqued and analyzed to arrive at various versions of
truth about our physical universe, our lives in that universe, our spiritual
nature, and the meaning that can be drawn from all of that. Philosophy considers
and declares what is real and what is not. The results are past on to others
to preserve the truth determined by a philosophy and to invite further thought
on the matters of concern. This is quite clear when thinking of philosophies
contained in religions.
Perhaps not quite so evident is that philosophy is also behind such endeavors
as mathematics and science. The cornerstones of those efforts are in philosophical
declarations. The physical universe is completely bound into this universe of
thought because the mathematics and science we use to discover and understand
the physical universe are themselves based in the philosophies that provided
for their creation and evolution. Further, as we attempt to understand things we
can not directly measure or see, like black holes and atomic particles for example,
what is said about them tends to be more purely rooted in philosophy because the
evidence that is presented is clearly indirect or implied. Now, this does not mean
our science and mathematics are fraudulent or useless. Indeed, we have all
experienced the benefits that our science and mathematics have produced.
Beyond the formalized philosophies, such as taught in schools or by religions,
there is an infinite variety of individual thought. Everyday, as we go through
our lives, we apply bits and pieces from a number of philosophies. We mix and
match them as suits our needs and purposes. Even in matters like religion where
we may expect a uniform view to be held by the members of the religion, people
frequently hold beliefs that are outside the teachings of their religion. In
scientific endeavors, there are those who work outside the bounds of the current
philosophies that apply to their field of interest. This then, points to the true
nature of philosophy; philosophy is simply the product of thought. That is why
philosophy is so varied and changing. Beyond and behind all the formal, written
or otherwise preserved philosophies are the beliefs of people.
When considering the variety of thought, it is important to note that there are
certain points of truth, most would say fact, that we all agree on. For instance:
"Water is wet", "Fire is hot", Water is good to drink", etc. We feel very
confident in these truths. This knowledge of truth indeed enables us to survive,
prosper, and believe we can understand more about the universe we live in. There
is a lot of emotional energy expended anytime something threatens to change our
knowledge of what is so. This is especially true if one of these basic items is
the topic of concern. As a gross illustration, consider what would happen given
the following change in the world. One basic truth we all hold is that healthy
grass is green in color. What would happen if all the grass in the world, though
otherwise unchanged and still healthy, turned orange and no cause could be found.
There would be wide spread fear, predictions of doom, etc. The point being is
there is a lot of energy in the world with regard to things that are true;
particularly things that seem so basic to "how the world is". This is because
these basic truths have traveled down through the ages to us from the very first
humans. More, they have come to us from their ancestors and predecessors who first
experienced life here.
The first living thing that appeared on the earth experienced its environment and
responded to it in whatever ways it could. Though it is unlikely that any thought
or awareness was present, the individuals that responded in ways that helped them
survived and prospered. As living things became more complex and were able to
sense and respond to their environment in more elaborate ways, they brought with
them the successful results for the sense / response patterns of their predecessors.
Over time, as the processes of cognition became available in some species, those
species began to have what might crudely be called "expectations" about certain
sense / response patterns. As sensory organs became more numerous and capable, the
sensed environment became more detailed. Over the eons the patterns and "expectations'
became more complex. The first thinking humans inherited this primitive set of
expectations as the basis for their understanding of how the world is.
Ever since, we have refined and expanded our view of how our world and how our
universes are. Along the way we have created mathematics and sciences to help
understand them more fully. We are sometimes amazed that we are able to successfully
apply our sciences and mathematics to get correct result when dealing with very
diverse areas of interest. We have noticed strong similarities in the equations
that describe seemingly very different aspects of our universe. We are also amazed
at the similarities we see between the structures we find in the universe of outer
space and the universe of the small. Some have even come to believe that we will be
able, someday, to write a single set of equations that will unify all of the forces
we have observed in the universe.
Given, that everything we know, is based on what we knew before, that everything
we know is rooted in our history of experience, it just may be that our universes
are the way they are because that is how life has experienced them and believes
them to be. It may be that our mathematics and science work so well for us because
they were invented by us, in this universe we live in, to describe this universe
we live in. It may be, the grass is green because, and only because, everyone has
always believed that grass is green. If this is so, then our universes are what we
have and continue to believe them to be, nothing more, nothing less.
Copyright © by Liesel Siobhan
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