Existence and The Universe

 Existence and The Universe

Bertrand Russell said, “I should say the universe is there, and that’s all” To explain how factually the universe came to be is the job of physicists. Cultures have provided myths to express how the universe came into existence.

One extreme: “Nothingness is special. It is the simplest.”

The other extreme: “The fullest possible reality. That’s special.” (Perhaps the most elegant? Multiverse with all possible outcomes?)

In between, there is a mixture of chaos and order. A mixture of mathematical elegance and ugliness. Nearly infinitely removed from either extreme.

Science has provided the “Big Bang Theory” that approximately 13.8 billion years ago out of an extremely compressed, hot substance the universe expanded rapidly and continues to this day. It is a theory and though widely accepted is not fact. How, how, and why it happened remain topics of debate: what the compressed substance was, how it came to be, what surrounded the substance was (nothingness?), etc.

Effectively a formula for existence could be:

Nothing + Deity   = The Universe           (for a believer)

Nothing +   ??       = The Universe          (for a non-believer)

“The reality we exist in has to turn out some way.” If there is simply a random generic reality in between there is not necessarily a need for explanation. It can be taken as a given, a starting point. While the theory is unresolved we exist in a universe. Why do any of us exist? We may have just won a cosmic lottery. Philosopher Rene Descartes famously stated, “I think, therefore I am.”  Similarly, the universe exists therefore it is something.

For the purpose of a beginning Bertrand Russell's statement “I should say the universe is there, and that’s all” will have to serve. For those who wish to pursue this further, there are a great number of theories that abound. A start is a reference for this topic below. Existence is why we can ask these questions and Some of the Rules of Life can help us make our way through existence.

Nietzsche said, "There are no facts, only interpretations." We may have to go with Bertrand Russell to move forward. 

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The following link may help

Why does the universe exist? | Jim Holt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORUUqJd81M