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Why is there 'something', rather than 'nothing'?

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Goathead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 08:49 PM
Original message
Why is there 'something', rather than 'nothing'?
And if there was 'nothing' wouldn't that in and of itself be 'something'? I mean a vacuum is defined by it's confines or it's parameters, so though it is lacking in matter it's borders define it as 'something' that can be categorized. :think: :wtf: :argh:
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Birthmark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 08:53 PM
Response to Original message
1. Is there really something?
The net energy of the universe is zero, as indicated by its flatness. Can something with zero energy actually be something?
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THUNDER HANDS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-25-04 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #1
7. most of the time i have zero energy
am I nothing?
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Kiteflyer Donating Member (84 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 09:18 PM
Response to Original message
2. Why not?
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Mumble Donating Member (140 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 09:22 PM
Response to Original message
3. Quantum mechanics gives you the answer
E=MC²
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Mumble Donating Member (140 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 09:29 PM
Response to Original message
4. Here's something to think about
Take your average Krispy Kreme glazed donut. Look at it. Examine it carefully. There is a hole in its center. The hole is part of the donut. It is something! Even though it is nothing!

This is a non-quantum mechanic explaination for non-science majors.
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starroute Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
5. I read a book about this once
The answer it gave was that nothing is inherently unstable and will eventually collapse into a lower energy state -- which is to say, something. So even if there was nothing to start with, it wouldn't have lasted.

Makes sense to me.
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BoX o BooX Donating Member (643 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-25-04 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
6. Joel Achenbach addresses this in his book,
"Why Things Are II: The Big Picture."

My copy is in storage, or I'd quote it for you.
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