Maybe we should look at one piece of that statement at a time and then try to reassemble it later.
Time is a dimension of existence. Time is measurable by the actions that separate one event in existence from another. Time is either eternal, limited, or eternal with distinctly measurable aspects. Existence is either infinite, bound, or infinitely complicated with parts of wholeness.
By default, time extends to the past infinitely because a time before time is still time since 'before' is a time designation. This applies to the future as well because 'after' is a time designation.
Anything that could be before or beyond the edge of detectability is still by definition 'The Universe'. Likewise, if there is anything before or beyond the ability to detect things inside the smallest extent of the universe, which by human detection or beyond the limits of human detection could be detectable it qualifies by definition as 'The Universe'.
The idea of linear time gives us two practical scenarios, both lending themselves to some degree of acceptance, with qualifying limitations.
1) Time extends in a never ending direction into past states that we have not yet been able to explain through scientific observation.
or
2) Time extends to a first tic but not before that. The only way this can be explained is if temporal experience was kicked off at the same tic. If time did not extend further into the past than the first tic, then what ever was responsible for the kickoff was not bound by the rules of temporal experience that came as a result of the kickoff.
Neither of these rational explanations for eternity can be proven using the scientific method of practical experience. However, I note that scientific method does not disprove them and does not offer its own explanation for the extensions of time further than cause and effect of time and experience.
Scientific method recognizes limitations of cause and effect temporal experience without being bound to an explanation of a 'before' the beginnings. So in this sense, scientific method recognizes that it has limits. Limits always help to define what is outside of those limitations.
There was nothing and then there was something. Total mystery.
The facts stop at what caused the universe (time, space, energy, matter, life) to begin or to be in existence. There is not one piece of scientific evidence that claims to explain origins.
Our experience in the universe is full of little nodes or gaps. They are like dots in our awareness of existence. They aren't just experiments waiting their turn, they are connected in a separate way. Once you start to connect the dots your perspective begins to change. It's humbling. |
