An attack on modern science (The limitations of science)

by dhw, Thursday, January 29, 2015, 20:52 (3364 days ago) @ George Jelliss

dhw: ...In the second scenario of non-conscious energy, if it can mindlessly create one universe by turning itself into matter, it can mindlessly create a succession of universes the same way. Since the first cause has to be eternal, theoretically you can have an infinite succession of universes. And the more universes you have, the shorter the odds against one of them finally and randomly producing the conditions for life. I'd have thought this would appeal to George!-GEORGE: It doesn't appeal to me because I have an aversion to infinity. 
Whenever infinity appears in any physical explanation it is indicative of an error. 
There is no such thing as "eternity".
Time and Space have a common zero point (I avoid calling it a "beginning"). 
There was never any 'before' or 'outside' of the universe. 
This is obvious when you realise that the universe is everything, by definition.-You can win any argument by defining your terms in such a way that there can be no opposition. But here are three dictionary definitions of “universe”:
1)The aggregate of all existing matter, energy, and space.” (Collins)
2)All existing space, energy and matter (Chambers)
3)Universe (astron.) In modern astronomy this term has the particular meaning: that totality of all that is in the cosmos and which can affect us by means of physical forces. The definition excludes anything which is in principle undetectable physically, such as regions of spacetime that have been irreversibly cut off from our own spacetime. (Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary)-You are of course free to choose your own definition, but the emphasis in all of these is on what now exists. They do not exclude a before or earlier universes. Your aversion to infinity, and authoritative statements that there is no such thing as infinity or eternity or before or outside are as speculative and as unprovable as all the different theories about how we got here. But I must confess I'm disappointed that you've rejected the statistical support that previous universes would offer for your faith that chance could assemble the ingredients for life. Ah well, I did my best!