Nothingness? – Dialectic Two Step

Nothingness?

Question: When arguing what was before the big bang, many say it was a state of nothingness. What exactly is nothingness?

Response: Seems like a logical trap to me. “Before” the big bang? I guess there would be two possible ways to look at this

1. time began with the big bang

2. time was there before the big bang

Theoretically, we’re practically bound to the first option, until we can cast our senses to “before” the big bang. Not sure how you would measure such a thing. Not sure if measurement is even an applicable concept?

So when arguing about “before” the big bang, you are establishing a premise that cannot be verified as true. i.e. that there is a “before” the big bang.

But for the sake of argument, let’s say we take all the possible truth states of that premise

1. True – If there is a “before” the big bang, Then time exists before the big bang. Maybe by extension you could assume that other time space continuum dimensions exist? If so, you could argue that there might be something. If this were true, you can stop worrying about nothingness.

2. False – If there is no “before” the big bang. Then the conversation is is over.

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

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