From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Dec 09 2002 - 09:42:35 MST
Mitchell Porter <mitchtemporarily@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Let's be clear about this. Do you agree with the
> following statements?
>
> 1) The universe exists.
Yes, I certainly hope it does!
> 2) There is absolutely no reason why the universe
> exists.
I don't believe we can make any intelligible
statements about a cause (or lack of cause) for the
universe.
(I refer here to causes rather than reasons, because
it is conceivable to me that the universe has always
existed for a reason, even if it was not caused.)
> If you agree with those, then my question is:
>
> Could the universe not have existed at all?
>
> So far you have only argued that total nonexistence
> is inconceivable. But the question now is whether
> it's *impossible*. If you think it's impossible,
> then you do have an answer to the question "Why
> does the universe exist?" - "Because the
> alternative is impossible."
To say that a thing or event is possible or impossible
is to say there are circumstances in the universe that
allow or prohibit the occurrence of that thing or
event. Therefore it is meaningless to ask whether the
universe's non-existence was possible. Things can be
possible or impossible only in a universe.
-gts
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