In the era of precise measurements and supercomputers, an old tool of our mind is increasingly forgotten: thinking. Yet our ability to think has probably brought humanity farther then any other conscious activity. To give an example, the 18th century Immanuel Kant, bare of any astronomical instruments, came to the conclusion that Saturn’s ring could only be formed by cosmic debris. His contemporaneous writer, philosopher, geologist J.W. von Goethe found, by simple observations and deep analysis, that all plants have one common ancestor species.
Thinking about the universe means to look into the face of the absolute, beyond limiting ideas, concepts and faith. Ultimately we can only understand ourselves by understanding the universe, and understanding the universe by understanding ourselves.
(1) A programmed universe?
The first assumption to make is that the universe is governed by a set of laws, which define causality. Conventional wisdom applied would suggest that the entire universe is built on a complex order of laws that govern the interface between spiritual entity, energy and materia. On our planet, every molecule or substance exists and can only exist in a state of equilibrium with surrounding chemical and physical conditions. The crystal rock we pick up high on the Rocky Mountains can tell us exactly under which pressure, chemical and time conditions it had formed. Now, being exposed to the elements of the surface, it will degrade and seek a new equilibrium to exist.
This leads to the following thought: If you take X amount of matter, place it under a certain temperature and pressure, big bang(s) will occur otherwise something else will happen. If you have Y matter expanding into space under a certain temp/pressure/time you will get a solar system, etc, etc, etc.
If there are laws and logic in the universe (and, yes, this seems to be the case), the universe is nothing but a huge laboratory. This would mean that all timeless events in the universe are predictable and repeatable, and follow a precise logic.
Interestingly, the amount of material building blocks (atoms, sub-atomic-size particles) seems to be limited, and so are sub-atomic particles, and a few mathematic constants such as Phi and Pi. A handful of symmetry classes characterize all natural crystals on planet earth. Symmetries of 1,2,3,4 (and their multiples) are realized in nature. Solar systems and galaxies come close to a cat. 2 symmetry. The symmetry of five (very important in Islam, the scheme of the Pentagon, and the American star), and seven are not realized in (non-organic) nature. It means that the cosmic reality could be compared to an immense computer program built with few very selective concepts, rather than billions of concepts. The universe seems to be governed only by a few equations! The same logic holds for the human genome, which is based on the arrangement of four large protein molecules only. The result is a finite number of patterns, that will constantly repeat themselves – and we are (unconscious, semi-conscious) parts of it.
The code, like a computer program can be found in every life form, written into the DNA of our genetic structure. We know from gene research that certain alleles switch on when specific conditions are met, otherwise they stay dormant, as if they are arranged in an “If, Then, Else” paradigm. In the inanimate world the same “If, Then, Else” program is also found. For example, if carbon atoms are arranged so that each one bonds to four others in a tetrahedral pattern, you end up with a diamond. If those same atoms are arranged with three atoms neighboring each other in a planar structure your result will be graphite. “If, Then, Else” is programmed into every single bit of matter in the universe using a highly sophisticated program and circuitry that we have yet to recreate.
(2) About the origins of the universe.
The ‘Big Bang’ theory leaves more questions than answers. It extrapolates concepts of the Bible's Genesis chapter (and Christianity, Islam) into the past of the universe. Recent research is rather ambivalent. Yes, there were huge cosmic explosions in the past that rocked the universe. Yes, the current universe seems to have an age (mid-time). But the question of alpha and omega is not fully answered yet. What we can observe is that the universe recycles constantly. Our galaxy is eating up right now two minor galaxies (one is called Sagittarius), with infrared glowing stars raining down almost perpendicularly onto the circular path of our solar system rotating around the central black hole. The latter seems to be waking up right now. Another interesting new piece of research indicates that the rotation energy of a given galaxy is proportional to the mass of the central black hole. Our central Milky Way Black Hole is about to eat another solar system. Bon Appetit. Has the universe a definite beginning, a definite end? Or was it always there, in a sequence of repeating patterns, with no beginning, with no end?
If we treat Black Holes as if they are voracious creatures gobbling up matter through the universe we start to fit that into the how, if and why of the Big Bang. Currently we can see thousands of galaxies, but what happens after many billions of years as those hungry Black Holes suck matter up that approaches its event horizon? Will there be one day only be two Black Holes? Would that lead to one eventually eating the other, thus placing all matter under X pressure, at Y temperature for Z time? With all conditions now met and in a single quantum beat the big bang could occur. And as the beat goes on, an endlessly recycling universe, self creating, self directed, but finite in the sense that new matter cannot be created, just transmuted based on what conditions exist as that portion of time unfolds, begins again.
(3) Collective and individual actions. Is there freedom of choice?
If the universe is a sequence of repetitive patterns, what is our role? Indeed, our freedom of individuality may be a very fine line. If our thinking follows the guideline of the Mid-Eastern origin religions, there is no ultimate responsibility and individuality, because we were created by God. If our thinking follows the path of no-beginning-no-end, our actions are part of a greater scheme. If we agree, that the entire universe is interacting, it means that every atom, every molecule influences any other particle.
I listened March 4, 04 to the brilliant NPR radio series 'The Engines of our Enginuity' by Prof. Lienhardt (College of Engineering, University of Houston). He made the point that the acts of an individual ant do not make sense on an individual scale, but make perfect sense, if you consider the entire organization, in particular from the information flow point of view. This brings me to another concept. Have you ever looked down to a city high up from the airplane? It looks remarkably similar to the motherboard of a computer, or the transistor plate of a radio (chemical plants= condensators, integrated circuits = Wal-mart, residential areas= resistors etc.etc). This may imply that we are like a computer program that has been programmed in such a way that we (as individuals) cannot comprehend how it executes the commands.
If we are indeed programmed, we are not executing one program only but perhaps hundreds, thousands, millions of programs at the same time. And these programs interact with all of the others. Individually and collectively we have little control on the 'What,' but significant control on the 'how' and some limited control on the 'When.' Often I have seen people (and myself) changing patterns of action by adding just a last, strained bit of courage, or patience. Every choice that we make, while seemingly minute, has a direct affect on the path of everything else in existence. It is like a stack of dominoes, knock it down one way and all the tiles fall in that direction. Choose to knock it another direction and tiles will go a different way with each effect being caused by another’s actions.
It is not enough though to think of our actions as having an affect on our individual lives. It is not even enough to be so arrogant as to think that our actions are only relevant to our lifespan. This is especially true when we look at the way in which man’s existence has dramatically affected the ecosystem of the entire planet, from holes in the ozone layer to entire species of animals and plants becoming extinct. What we decide, from whether to drive in a certain direction or to over-fish the ocean has impact, has purpose, has meaning and may in fact already be predetermined. However, we must not let the prospect of predetermination prevent us from making intelligent choices. No, the choices are ours to make, they are limited yes, but they do exist. There are always good and bad choices. It is up to each one of us to make the best right possible choice.
From whatever standpoint we may look on our existence, freedom of action will figure as a very fine line. We belong to the earth and our universe. Our responsibility is to be in equilibrium with any other living entity, because in an interconnected universe every polar action will produce a backlash, necessary to reinstall a balanced world for all.
©2004 by Franz L. Kessler and Sara Coslett
The above is from the Qur'an and there's more where that came from. Safi