Infinite Regress: The Adventure Quiz

[zilch]

Yes, very nice work, Quasar.

[MacGyverJr]

I have this just about done using a program called tweebox, there is 1 problem with returning to the proper question, but other then that it's complete

[MrFreeThinker]

Therefore, Occams Razor would suggest that the universe exists in an eternal, looping state.

Unfortunately there is a great deal of evidence that contradicts this assertion.

[Whateverman]

Can you please provide an example of this evidence?

As far as I understand it, almost all models of the universe involve a "big bang". But this does not exclude the possibility of a big crunch which is followed by another big bang, etc (re. eternal looping state).

Until we're able to explain accelerating expansion, dark matter/energy, and formulate a quantum theory of gravity (which will explain the center of a black hole, and indirectly the singularity at the big bang), we'll fail to understand which models are more accurate than others.

[MrFreeThinker]

Can you please provide an example of this evidence?

As far as I understand it, almost all models of the universe involve a "big bang". But this does not exclude the possibility of a big crunch which is followed by another big bang, etc (re. eternal looping state).

Until we're able to explain accelerating expansion, dark matter/energy, and formulate a quantum theory of gravity (which will explain the center of a black hole, and indirectly the singularity at the big bang), we'll fail to understand which models are more accurate than others.

One example would be the laws of thermodynamics. If we had existed infinitely we would be at absolute zero. I think I've heard some people suggest a model where time and entropy rewinds itself with every successive crunch to get around the thermodynamics problem.Here is a wiki article on the model. But for this model to work we would have to discover completely new physics, we would have to assume tenseless theory of time and then there's the problem of whether actual infinites can exist.So much for Occam's razor supporting this model.

[Whateverman]

One example would be the laws of thermodynamics. If we had existed infinitely we would be at absolute zero.

I didn't follow most of what you wrote, but maybe it's best to start at the beginning. Can you restate the above for me, please?

[Quasar]

Can you please provide an example of this evidence?

As far as I understand it, almost all models of the universe involve a "big bang". But this does not exclude the possibility of a big crunch which is followed by another big bang, etc (re. eternal looping state).

Until we're able to explain accelerating expansion, dark matter/energy, and formulate a quantum theory of gravity (which will explain the center of a black hole, and indirectly the singularity at the big bang), we'll fail to understand which models are more accurate than others.

One example would be the laws of thermodynamics. If we had existed infinitely we would be at absolute zero.

Negative MrFreethinker. A closed system does not lose energy. The universe would have to be either of infinite size or an open system, influenced by external sources, for this to occur.

I think I've heard some people suggest a model where time and entropy rewinds itself with every successive crunch to get around the thermodynamics problem.

Actually, the article you linked to mentions this briefly:

Since no "memory" of previous cycles would be preserved, the entropy issue was eliminated, but by the same token there was little reason to postulate cycles before or after the present one.

Please don't just read what you want out of that sentence: consider why it becomes unnecessary to posulate before or after the present cycle if no information about the previous ones survives the singularity.