PhilSci Archive

A Modal Condition for the Beginning of the Universe

Linford, Daniel (2022) A Modal Condition for the Beginning of the Universe. [Preprint]

[img]
Preview
Text
Modal_Condition_For_Erkenntnis.pdf

Download (262kB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper considers two problems -- one in philosophy of religion and another in philosophy of physics -- and shows that the two problems have one solution. Some Christian philosophers have endorsed the views that (i) there was a first finitely long period of time, (ii) God is in time, and yet (iii) God did not have a beginning. If there was a first finitely long period of time and God is in time then there was a first finitely long period of time in God's life. But if God's life includes a first finitely long period of time, then, on one initially intuitive conception of beginning to exist, God began to exist. Thus, at first glance, (i)-(iii) are not mutually compatible. Meanwhile, on a variety of proposals for quantum gravity theories or interpretations of quantum theory, space-time is not fundamental to physical reality and instead can (somehow) be explained in terms of yet more fundamental physical substructures. As I show, there is a strong intuition that if space-time is not fundamental to physical reality, then, even if there were a first finitely long period in the life of physical reality, physical reality would be beginningless. Thus, both theistic philosophers and philosophers of physics have developed theories on which some beginningless entities have a first finitely long temporal period in their lives and so both groups should be interested in developing criteria that distinguish such entities from entities with a beginning. In this paper, I offer one necessary (but not sufficient) condition, namely, that entities that begin to exist are absent from the closest possible worlds without time. The view that I defend has one significant upshot: no sound argument can use the mere fact (if it is a fact) that past time is finite to reach the conclusion that the totality of physical reality had a beginning.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Linford, Danieldlinford@purdue.edu0000-0001-8008-4969
Keywords: cosmology, kalam argument, philosophy of time, philosophy of spacetime, quantum gravity, time, creation of the universe, cosmological arguments
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Science and Religion
Depositing User: Mr. Daniel Linford
Date Deposited: 01 Nov 2022 16:25
Last Modified: 01 Nov 2022 16:25
Item ID: 21340
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Science and Religion
Date: 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21340

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item