Is Nature an Illusion? Exploring Natural Order in an Expanding Universe
Written on
Chapter 1: Understanding Nature
Nature is often perceived as self-evident, yet philosophers and theologians have long debated its true essence. The term "nature" typically denotes the physical world we inhabit, and for many, this suffices. Science provides the necessary insights into this realm, allowing individuals to lead their lives without further inquiry.
However, for those who ponder more deeply about nature, the simplicity fades. Science assumes that fundamental physical laws, like those of thermodynamics, govern nature. But where do these laws originate?
Religious perspectives assert that such laws are divinely established, while secular thinkers maintain skepticism. Historically, religious beliefs held that Earth was the universe's center until the Copernican Revolution dispelled that notion.
So, what is the source of these natural laws? Until the 1920s, secular philosophers argued that this inquiry was irrelevant, positing that the universe and its laws have always existed. Nature, they claimed, encompasses all.
Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble's groundbreaking paper on the velocity-distance relation, which examined galaxies, unveiled a startling truth: the universe is expanding. This discovery lent support to Belgian priest and astronomer George Lemaître's Big Bang theory, suggesting a definitive beginning to the universe.
In 1931, physicist Arthur Eddington expressed his philosophical discomfort with the idea of a beginning, as it implies a Creator—an idea many scientists believed to have been dismissed by Copernicus's revelations.
Section 1.1: The Evolution of the Universe
As evidence mounted, the Steady State model faced swift challenges. Astrophysicist Roger Penrose noted in his book "Cycles of Time" that the accidental discovery of microwave electromagnetic radiation by Arno Penzias and Robert W. Wilson in 1964 was a significant blow to this model.
This radiation, known as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), is a remnant from the universe's early stages and serves as clear proof of its evolution from superheated plasma to the formation of atoms, stars, and galaxies. As biologist Ursula Goodenough wrote in "The Sacred Depths of Nature," the universe's cooling allowed chemistry to emerge from high-energy physics, leading to the development of life through Darwinian evolution.
Creationists often contest evolution, yet it stands as compelling evidence that our universe is not static but has developed over time according to specific laws. Thus, we return to the question: Where do these laws originate?
Subsection 1.1.1: The Randomness of Natural Laws
Section 1.2: The Concept of the Multiverse
Before the Steady State model was fully discredited, the idea of a multiverse emerged. Initially coined by William James in 1895, it gained traction with physicist Hugh Everett's many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics in 1957. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins elaborates in "The God Delusion" that the laws governing our universe are mere by-laws compared to the multitude of potential laws across an expansive multiverse.
Dawkins and others propose that the laws of nature in our universe arose by chance, suggesting our universe is one of countless others, each with its distinct laws. However, the lack of observable evidence for this multiverse leaves the concept speculative, resting mainly on theoretical discussions.
Fortunately, the laws of physics still enable scientists to explore and deepen our understanding of the natural world. Yet proponents of the multiverse dismiss the notion of a natural order, asserting that the laws we observe are fundamentally arbitrary, rendering any belief in order an illusion.
Chapter 2: The Quest for Natural Order
Sigmund Freud cautioned against the psychological roots of religious beliefs in "The Future of an Illusion," suggesting that such beliefs fulfill humanity's deepest desires. Yet, secular thinkers also seem vulnerable to illusion, haunted by historical figures like Giordano Bruno, executed in 1600 for advocating the Copernican view. Consequently, discussions of divinity are often avoided in scientific circles, and the idea of any divine influence on nature is dismissed. Randomness becomes their default belief, a reaction to the expanding universe.
Natural Order and Infinite Reality
For those who believe in a profound natural order, the ultimate reality does not equate to chaos. It is challenging to accept that the organization we observe in nature results from mere randomness. The notion of a multiverse appears less credible than the idea of a higher power overseeing the universe. For many, nature—both physically and metaphysically—is all-encompassing and real, guided by forces beyond our comprehension.
John Burroughs encapsulated this thought in "Accepting the Universe," stating, "As we cannot get away from Nature, we cannot get away from the Eternal." The term "God" may simply represent a primitive understanding of this eternal concept, which aligns with the infinite nature of the space-time continuum. Ultimately, humanity must forge a conception of nature that addresses the profound mystery of natural order, transcending conventional religious and secular labels.
Perhaps in the future, as we move beyond these limiting frameworks, we will gain a clearer vision of nature and find ourselves in awe.