Understanding is achieved through the comparison and contrast of one item with the things around it (hot is hot because it isn't cold, dark is dark because it isn't light, etc.). The human mind is excellent at categorizing through contrast, taking one thing, measuring its characteristics, and comparing them with other characteristics. However, when one is dealing in things that are universal, such as the universe, or infinity, or space, or consciousness (consciousness is universal because there is no way to measure anything that does not have something that is aware of it), then understanding is impossible. The reason for this, is that universals have no comparators. You can't define Universe and "give 3 examples", there is no perspective that is "outside" of the universe. All things that would be used to define (put boundaries on, for the purpose of understanding) the universe, ARE the universe.
So, given this limitation of understanding, how do you presume to KNOW what happens at the "end of the universe"? What happens just after that? The suggestion is nothingness, but nothing cannot come from something, just as something cannot come from nothing. The relationships between particles (even over vast space) will still exist. And, one might recognize that most things that we consider matter (including our precious selves) are made up of tiny particles relating over vast space.
Slashdot Mirror
Understanding is achieved through the comparison and contrast of one item with the things around it (hot is hot because it isn't cold, dark is dark because it isn't light, etc.). The human mind is excellent at categorizing through contrast, taking one thing, measuring its characteristics, and comparing them with other characteristics. However, when one is dealing in things that are universal, such as the universe, or infinity, or space, or consciousness (consciousness is universal because there is no way to measure anything that does not have something that is aware of it), then understanding is impossible. The reason for this, is that universals have no comparators. You can't define Universe and "give 3 examples", there is no perspective that is "outside" of the universe. All things that would be used to define (put boundaries on, for the purpose of understanding) the universe, ARE the universe.
So, given this limitation of understanding, how do you presume to KNOW what happens at the "end of the universe"? What happens just after that? The suggestion is nothingness, but nothing cannot come from something, just as something cannot come from nothing. The relationships between particles (even over vast space) will still exist. And, one might recognize that most things that we consider matter (including our precious selves) are made up of tiny particles relating over vast space.