What if the natural world didn't always exist?

[Gestas]

I am interested in the community's thoughts on a particular hypothetical proposition. And for the sake of this discussion nothing means nonexistent, zero potentiality, or a state of affairs where not one thing exists (regardless of what the things are made of). The natural world would mean all matter and energy, including the behavior the matter and energy exhibits.

The hypothetical proposition is the natural world did not always exist. In other words, there was state of affairs where there was no natural world. Now there is a state of affairs where there is a natural world (planets, gravity, stars, etc.) and we're living in it.

And my question is what, if anything, can be inferred from this hypothetical proposition?

Thank you.

[Hydra009]

The hypothetical proposition is the natural world did not always exist. In other words, there was state of affairs where there was no natural world. Now there is a state of affairs where there is a natural world (planets, gravity, stars, etc.) and we're living in it.

That's basically the backstory of the Elder Scrolls games.

[Gestas]

That's basically the backstory of the Elder Scrolls games.

Cool.

[Blackleaf]

[Gestas]

Very good.

[Baruch]

If this is a gamer question, it goes in that section.

If this is a philosophy question, it goes in that section.

If this is a physics question, it goes in that section.

Have you bothered to introduce yourself yet, in the Intro section?

[Gestas]

If this is a gamer question, it goes in that section.

If this is a philosophy question, it goes in that section.

If this is a physics question, it goes in that section.

Have you bothered to introduce yourself yet, in the Intro section?

if you want to see another user's posts, click their handle and then click show posts.

I don't think this is a gamer question, but it could be a scientific question or a philosophical question. If a mod thinks this thread should be in a different section then I concur and would like for them to move it there. Thank you. Perhaps the responses will improve if a move is made.

[sdelsolray]

I am interested in the community's thoughts on a particular hypothetical proposition. And for the sake of this discussion nothing means nonexistent, zero potentiality, or a state of affairs where not one thing exists (regardless of what the things are made of). The natural world would mean all matter and energy, including the behavior the matter and energy exhibits.

The hypothetical proposition is the natural world did not always exist. In other words, there was state of affairs where there was no natural world. Now there is a state of affairs where there is a natural world (planets, gravity, stars, etc.) and we're living in it.

And my question is what, if anything, can be inferred from this hypothetical proposition?

Thank you.

You have left time out of your invented bubble, or you have made unspoken temporal assumptions.

Please try again making sure to place time conspicuously into your thought experiment.

[Baruch]

A brief jaunt into current physics then ... as opposed to philosophy of physics ...

Back in the day, even in ancient Greece, it was understood, with space and time being separate to their understanding, that if one found a boundary to a cosmos, then one could extend it by simply stretching your hand out.

In time, people have usually had linear or circular ideas.  With circular time, there is no beginning or end, so no edge.  With linear time, before the 1960s, it was usually believe that time (however entangled with space in Relativity theory) was like the real number line, without a terminus at either end.  After the Big Bang first became plausible in the 1960s, and then got further evidential support ... it was accepted that time could be like a ray, which is to say the number line that begins with zero and extends to positive infinity.  And while alternative versions of the Big Bang have come and gone, the current evidence still supports no future end, except in practical terms things will be so cold and empty and mostly neutrinos ... life would be impossible as we know it.

If you want to discuss more Big Bang theory, continue in the Physics section ... if you want to discuss Sheldon Cooper and the Gang ... then in the Entertainment section ;-)

[aitm]

well..it appears that at one time, nothing existed and then at a "later" time, they existed. Kinda like you said... you know..cause it's a tough one there....exist..not exist..thingy.

[Draconic Aiur]

the natural world has always been on earth and every damn planet

[sdelsolray]

well..it appears that at one time, nothing existed and then at a "later" time, they existed. Kinda like you said... you know..cause it's a tough one there....exist..not exist..thingy.

Well, if nothing existed "at one time" then time existed while there was allegedly nothing existing.  Time is a something.  Thus, there is no time during which nothing can exist.

[fencerider]

In the beginning time was circular. It had no beginning, it just was. Then along came some smart guy like Tesla that cut the time line so that now it appears to have a beginning. and here we are...

[Baruch]

Well, if nothing existed "at one time" then time existed while there was allegedly nothing existing.  Time is a something.  Thus, there is no time during which nothing can exist.

Correct, with the Big Bang, both space and time start.

[aitm]

Well, if nothing existed "at one time" then time existed while there was allegedly nothing existing.  Time is a something.  Thus, there is no time during which nothing can exist.

Hey, I am just playing his hypo....at a time there was nothing and then there was something......so...we know what comes next...but maybe he has a new angle......HA....like thats possible.