Some would say in the infinite galaxy, all possibilities will happen, due to the nature of infinity, but religion could say, "Something *had* to have interfered to actually -help- these number assume such a perfect state to attain life."
I was actually just thinking about this...
If the universe is infinite, then you have a big problem with free will (Policeman : you're nicked!. Criminal : Someone had to do it!). Therefore it would seem to make sense that the universe is not infinite.
Also, regarding the Multiverse, if you are determined to exclude God from you're argument, then it would seem to make sense to have more than one universe, because if there is only one, and that one is absolutely perfect for life, then that can be used as an argument for God. But you can't have an infinite number of any particular type of universe, because that would lumber you with the free will problem again. Also, you have to have an infinite number of different types of universes, because otherwise it gets too complex (why some types of universe and not others?, the sceptic would say).
It's stuff like this that makes it clear to me the number of preconceptions that people bring to what is, at the moment anyway, totally unknowable.It's just bloody mind boggling.
"Mankind's fault"? Trust me, I'm quick one to blame men for what they deserve, but here I think you're going too far.
Sigh... Somehow I knew you would say this. Get this : Man != man. Mankind is all types of men - both men and women. It's meant that for the last 1000+ years, till you feminazis came along and took offence. I actually quite like America, but it seems to be rife with idiotic ideas like this, which is why I'm glad I don't live there. My blood pressure would burst my head off if I did, I'm sure.
Don't blame the universe for Mankinds problems. You seem to be wrapped in the 'social' universe. Like the Python song quoted above says, you should try and gain a sense of perspective and think of the universe as a vast, beautiful and essentially uncaring place.
Why should the universe give a shit about humanity? Thats our responsibility. Besides, IMO, it's better to live a crappy, persecuted and miserable life than never to have lived at all.
However, why was there a pinhead to explode in the first place? Something must have created it.
There was no 'cause' of the big bang, AFAIK, because time began with the big bang. Therefore to talk of a cause or initiating event is essentially meaningless. Or at least, thats how physicists get out of this one;-)
I suspect that the difference between us is simply that you are a lot more optomistic about human nature than I am:^)
this time it might be alot different since there is internet and people are in contact daily, hourly even with pplfrom all over the world so
that might be a soothing factor, since if the people know that there is no such thing as a big mean bad guy on the other side of the world, I think Cold
War will not be.
I think this is a very good point, my only quibble would be that there are plenty of examples of people living next to one another, and being in daily contact, but still developing a great animosity (N. Ireland, Yugoslavia, Israel etc) towards each other. I fully agree that we the people are the only ones that can do something about it once it starts, but possibly that is in itself a very western idea ; it seems to me that a lot of far eastern countries have very rigorous top-down societies & the people don't get much of a look in, and whats worse, they accept this as being perfectly normal. It seems that in countries such as singapore and japan, people are willing to live in an authoritarian system, as long as they are prosperous.
but would you not agree
that if they could just get over the hump of "Well I don't have to show off now anymore" they could do alot better.
Yes... theoretically:-) I just don't think that government/people are as altruistic as that. I think that space exploration will always be more impressive when it is motivated by fear, rather than curiosity. But then, this comes back to the optimism/pessimism thing again.
Regardless of whether you like Katz or not, you have to respect him for bringing something more substantial to the table that "Hey, they are gonna release a new version of Beowulf" or "Hey, the RIAA really sucks, huh?"
The big problem I have with this is that the article doesn't appear to make any original, interesting or non-obvious point. It appears to be nothing more than intellectual masturbation, humdrum conceptual ideas dressed up in a rich veil of verbiage. I mean, the gist of his article appears to be as follows:
1) starts off with a quote about 'teletextual incendiarism' - oh dear
2)Makes the point that flamers aren't usally as offensive in real life. -Gasp! What an insight. This is repeated several times.
3) Observes that flamers are often adolescent/immature. What food for thought!
4)Notes that people get flamed a lot online, and had better get used to it. Well I never...
5) Points out that flamers enjoy knocking people off their pedestal, and are bastions of the freedom of the net, By Gum.
6) Umm, that's about it.
This is why there is no serious discussion. Discourse needs a subject matter, new ideas, an interesting viewpoint, food for thought, etc. These things are entirely lacking from this article, which enrages people.
The only problem I have with this is that I think less competition among the nations would lead to far less space exploration. I mean, the whole sixties push for the moon only happened because of the idealogical rivalry between the US & USSR. If these two nations had been the best of friends, and cooperated, I'd be willing to bet that we wouldn't have been to the moon even by today.
I sometimes think that the next big push for space will happen in about twenty or thirty years time, when there *might* be another bout of idealogical competition between the east & west.
The next big challenge to the democratic capitalism we enjoy here in the west seems to be the authoritarian & very beurocratic systems prevalent in many Asian countries, such as Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea etc. When they get sufficiently powerful, & we in the west realise we have a fight on our hands, we may find ourselves in another sort of Cold War.I suspect propoganda will be even more important this time. Problem is, it'll probably be much scarier next time.
(just previewed the above. I sound like Katz! the shame...:)
I very much doubt they are leftover from SL9. AFAIK, the disruption from the comet disappeared after a few hours (or around that order of magnitude, anyway).
Slashdot Mirror
I was actually just thinking about this...
If the universe is infinite, then you have a big problem with free will (Policeman : you're nicked!. Criminal : Someone had to do it!). Therefore it would seem to make sense that the universe is not infinite.
Also, regarding the Multiverse, if you are determined to exclude God from you're argument, then it would seem to make sense to have more than one universe, because if there is only one, and that one is absolutely perfect for life, then that can be used as an argument for God. But you can't have an infinite number of any particular type of universe, because that would lumber you with the free will problem again. Also, you have to have an infinite number of different types of universes, because otherwise it gets too complex (why some types of universe and not others?, the sceptic would say).
It's stuff like this that makes it clear to me the number of preconceptions that people bring to what is, at the moment anyway, totally unknowable.It's just bloody mind boggling.
I think I'll have a cheese sandwich.
Sigh... Somehow I knew you would say this. Get this : Man != man. Mankind is all types of men - both men and women. It's meant that for the last 1000+ years, till you feminazis came along and took offence. I actually quite like America, but it seems to be rife with idiotic ideas like this, which is why I'm glad I don't live there. My blood pressure would burst my head off if I did, I'm sure.
Of course! The great library of Alexandria was never destroyed - it was just turned into smoke and bricks. Thank God!
Why should the universe give a shit about humanity? Thats our responsibility. Besides, IMO, it's better to live a crappy, persecuted and miserable life than never to have lived at all.
Are you trolling? I can't make my mind up...
There was no 'cause' of the big bang, AFAIK, because time began with the big bang. Therefore to talk of a cause or initiating event is essentially meaningless. Or at least, thats how physicists get out of this one ;-)
this time it might be alot different since there is internet and people are in contact daily, hourly even with pplfrom all over the world so that might be a soothing factor, since if the people know that there is no such thing as a big mean bad guy on the other side of the world, I think Cold War will not be.
I think this is a very good point, my only quibble would be that there are plenty of examples of people living next to one another, and being in daily contact, but still developing a great animosity (N. Ireland, Yugoslavia, Israel etc) towards each other. I fully agree that we the people are the only ones that can do something about it once it starts, but possibly that is in itself a very western idea ; it seems to me that a lot of far eastern countries have very rigorous top-down societies & the people don't get much of a look in, and whats worse, they accept this as being perfectly normal. It seems that in countries such as singapore and japan, people are willing to live in an authoritarian system, as long as they are prosperous.
but would you not agree that if they could just get over the hump of "Well I don't have to show off now anymore" they could do alot better.
Yes ... theoretically:-) I just don't think that government/people are as altruistic as that. I think that space exploration will always be more impressive when it is motivated by fear, rather than curiosity. But then, this comes back to the optimism/pessimism thing again.
The big problem I have with this is that the article doesn't appear to make any original, interesting or non-obvious point. It appears to be nothing more than intellectual masturbation, humdrum conceptual ideas dressed up in a rich veil of verbiage. I mean, the gist of his article appears to be as follows:
1) starts off with a quote about 'teletextual incendiarism' - oh dear
2)Makes the point that flamers aren't usally as offensive in real life. -Gasp! What an insight. This is repeated several times.
3) Observes that flamers are often adolescent/immature. What food for thought!
4)Notes that people get flamed a lot online, and had better get used to it. Well I never...
5) Points out that flamers enjoy knocking people off their pedestal, and are bastions of the freedom of the net, By Gum.
6) Umm, that's about it.
This is why there is no serious discussion. Discourse needs a subject matter, new ideas, an interesting viewpoint, food for thought, etc. These things are entirely lacking from this article, which enrages people.
I sometimes think that the next big push for space will happen in about twenty or thirty years time, when there *might* be another bout of idealogical competition between the east & west.
The next big challenge to the democratic capitalism we enjoy here in the west seems to be the authoritarian & very beurocratic systems prevalent in many Asian countries, such as Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea etc. When they get sufficiently powerful, & we in the west realise we have a fight on our hands, we may find ourselves in another sort of Cold War.I suspect propoganda will be even more important this time. Problem is, it'll probably be much scarier next time.
(just previewed the above. I sound like Katz! the shame...:)
I very much doubt they are leftover from SL9. AFAIK, the disruption from the comet disappeared after a few hours (or around that order of magnitude, anyway).