You must have heard about the big bang at some Pont in your life. At least that is the name given to the popular science comedy series "Big bang Theory". According to the theory the universe started to expand from high density and pressure about 13.7 billion years before. And the time scale is so massive that we as humans only stayed on earth only for a fraction of this time. So, what was there before the big bang?
According to some views nothing can arise from nothing. It seems an obvious true fact. So, before the big bang it is unlikely that there was nothing. Scientists have shown that even in a vacuum, there are fluctuation of energy which can give rise to particles. Even vacuum may have not been an example for nothingness it is something. So, if there was something what was it before the big bang?
What more is there to support the idea that nothing can arise from nothing. Is light nothing? Surely not. Light although it can pass through a vacuum is a form of energy. That is why photosynthesis happens and all the life prevail on the earth. However, from Einstein equation
E =mc*2
energy and mass is interchangeable. So, it is rational to believe even light is transferable to mass, as we have already shown the other way of the equation is correct. So, there is a concept that matter can actually be a form of condensed light.
So far we have not come to this level of describing matter as condensed light. However, in quantum physics there is phenomena where light in certain states showing properties of particles in 'super particle state' The concept is called Bose-Einstein condensation, and which is not science fiction.
So, in conclusion whatever we have seen so far on our planet seems to be interchangeable. They have their own state at time with time they tend to convert into another state, provided unlimited timescale nothing seems to be permanent.
Let's look at this problem in a philosophical point of view. Let's imagine there has been some 'X' type of condition with 'Y' properties before the big bang. Obviously when science expands it is likely we would end up identifying such condition existed before the big bang. Now, still there would be our question, this time only that we ask, what was there before 'X'?
As you can see, simply answer to one question, will give rise to similar problem, only with some change in the context. Do you feel familiar? It is the chicken and egg problem applied to astronomy. But why? Why can't we get a definite finite answer, which can stop our hunt for information after all? Is there another way to understand these kinds of problems?
Let's look at our number line. A number line of all rational numbers (Positive, negative and 0). If you can imagine this, as you can see, it goes from negative infinity to positive infinity. Now if we represent time as a number line and events as numbers, there would be events going back to negative infinity if we take 0 as 'now' time. By definition, infinity is undefined. If this comparison is true, there would be no answer to, 'What was there before the big bang?' type questions. So, there is no correct answer to chicken and egg problem either. It is hard to get our heads wrapped around this type of uncertainty as minds always look for closure.
So how can we wrap around this idea, that there is an infinite past, and infinite future? So, what is really there? What is constant?
Simple answer to this is there is change. "Change" itself is constant.
Thank you for reading: What was there before the big bang? Infinity
You may also like to read: Happiness paradox and stoicism
Comments