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The Infinity Principle

Everything in the universe is infinite.

If either the age, size, energy or complexity of the universe are infinite, so are the others: if the universe is infinite in age, it must be infinite in size because a finite universe would keep expanding, ergo in energy, because it would otherwise be of infinitely low density due to this expansion, ergo in complexity because this energy would be distributed amongst the universe rather than remaining infinitely accumulated.

If the universe is infinite in size, it must be infinite in age because if it had a starting point it would originate from a singularity rather than popping into existence in infinite dimensions, and infinite in energy and complexity because it would otherwise be of infinitely low density as formerly said.

If the universe is infinite in energy, it must be infinite in age because in order to become of finite density it'd otherwise have to expand with infinite speed (this is the most plausible other possibility, as the absolute speed of light might not be absolute), infinite in size for the same reason, and infinite in complexity because of its infinite size.

Infinite complexity basically equals infinite size because size is relative. If the universe is infinite up or down, it makes little difference. Suppose the universe was contained inside a giant atom (which would have an infinitely complex substructure, so that this would be possible!), we'd still say the universe is tens of billions of light years in diameter instead of one and a half femtometer. Relative to an infinitely small world (at an infinitely complex level), everything is infinitely large. As we've said, infinite size and finite density means infinite energy. However, if the universe is infinite in complexity this does not necessarily mean that it is infinite in age.

Thus, we conclude that either:

  1. the age, size, energy and complexity of the universe are all infinite,
  2. neither the age, size, energy or complexity of the universe are infinite
  3. the size, energy and complexity, but not the age, of the universe are infinite, and the Theory of Relativity is incomplete.

You can scratch the latter two possibilities, however, if you can accept the following argument. Existence cannot have had an actual cause, because that cause would itself have to be part of existence, otherwise it could not have existed because it would then not be part of existence. Why would there be a beginning? Where did it come from? What caused it? Now, I'm talking about the whole of existence, not just our own reality, but any reality at all, including hypothetical realities in which our own universe was created. Unless there already existed "something" which had caused the universe to arise, ie there was already something in *existence* (in other words, in the universe), such cause would necessarily have been a causal, and for something to be science it must obey causality. Causality, then, is its own only exception. Everything has a cause, but the chain of causes and consequences itself hasn't.

Following this line of reasoning we conclude that the universe is infinite in age, size, energy and complexity.

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Comments (1)
#1 by rwc, Jun 14, 2008
Your comment that [Primal] \"Existence cannot have had an actual cause, because that cause would itself have to be part of existence, otherwise it could not have existed...\" is, I believe, a true statement. But to assume that all other subsequent and caused existences must also be infinite is, I would suggest, a false assumption. You are assuming that all existence is singular and cohesive and you are trying to conclude that it is therefore infinite. But there is no reason to believe that this assumption is true. Is it not logically possible (and I would dare say even probable) that the universe was caused by a very separate Primal Existence that is infinite and that the universe is something less than infinite?
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