Cosmology

Suggested limitations of the Big Bang theory of cosmic formation include:

• There is an inherent assumption of linear and uniform time flow from an original instant of creation approximately 15 billion years ago.  Time isn’t an absolute reality.  This is evident in the theory of Special Relativity.  The quality of time changes under extreme conditions and especially as we approach the origins of creation, as has been discussed previously and in the section on Relativity.
• There is also an inherent assumption that all matter in the cosmos derived from the Big Bang, at origination in the past.  Matter is believed to have derived initially from quantum fluctuations.  There is no scope for the ongoing creation and dissolution of matter.  Quantum fields and their fluctuations underlie all physical reality.  They pervade both space and time.  There is no reason why they shouldn’t be active in the present also.  Indications are that quantum fluctuations are active in sub-atomic particle formation and dissolution, for example in collapse of the Wave Function.  The amount of matter present in any location at any time would then depend on the balance between such formation and dissolution.
• Cosmology has provided an incredible wealth of observational information.  But it is struggling to make sense of this.  Theories are becoming increasingly convoluted, in attempts to explain ‘dark matter’ and its influences, the average flatness of space-time, why conditions in our universe are sufficiently stable to allow it to evolve to this point, how matter aggregated into galactic, solar system, planetary and other such structures and so on.  Complexity is far out in creation.  There is a great need for some over-arching principles to bring the picture into a clearer and simpler focus.  This seems a bit like the ancient Greeks trying to explain planetary motions in our skies with epicycles and so on, while the simple solution was that the planets orbit the sun.

If we look at the observational evidence of Life in the world around us, we see that there are many influences in play.  Consider the case of a car driving from say New York to Washington.  We can ask why did the car drive to Washington?  We can examine the physical interaction between the car and the road for clues.  Was it the composition of the rubber tyres, or of the road?  We can discern that the wheels rotated, and this is part of how the car made the journey.  But why did the car follow the particular route to Washington?  On closer examination, we can discern that the wheels can pivot and are controlled by a steering wheel.  But what controlled the steering wheel? 

We then discern that the steering wheel was directed by a driver’s hands.  But what controlled those hands?  We then come to the brain of the driver and reach a key point.  What directed the brain?  If the driver were asleep, the brain will still be physically present but would not have sufficient agency in itself for the task.  Ultimately, it is the consciousness / aliveness of the driver that caused the car to drive to Washington.  Consciousness is the key factor that conceived, implemented and makes sense of the event. 

If we look at various structures around us, how did these arise?  Take the case of a Ferrari sports car.  Was this conceived or pre-destined in the Big bang?  Did it form from random quantum fluctuations or from processes of natural selection?  No.  It was designed specifically by human intelligence and creativity.  Likewise with airplanes, computers, houses, cities and so on. 

The design, information and skills to form such structures derive from human intelligence and ultimately from the consciousness that informs such intelligence.

Take the case of the formation of a human body.  It starts from a single fertilised cell.  This accretes matter to form additional cells.  These continue progressively accreting matter to form a functional baby body, which in turn grows into a mature and conscious adult.  When consciousness leaves the body at death, the matter form of the body goes into decay relatively quickly.  Consciousness serves a key role in providing life-force to animate the body, sentience for perception and volition for activity.  

Here we see consciousness operating as an ordering principle in creation.  We see it helping to structure matter in the physical universe and elevate it to a higher level of functionality.  Consciousness isn’t confined to any one stage in creation.  It pervades creation and can be active in any stage.

Overall order cannot increase in a closed physical system, according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.  But in an open system, the situation is quite different.  This allows for creativity and for Cosmos, or order, to thrive in the face of Chaos.  Our universe carries both open and closed characteristics, as discussed under Hybrid Creation in the previous section. 

Information is key to the process of creating order.  For organic life, this is mediated through the agency of DNA.  The information imprint encoded in DNA derives from ancestral lineage.  But also from epigenetic influences that appear to adapt the DNA to the personal characteristics of individual life forms. 

Consider the case of trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and organic life generally.  These typically grow from tiny seeds, accreting matter in a very orderly way.  These processes are natural, orderly, flexible, adaptive and very efficient. 

What is interesting to observe is that the matter in organic forms is being renewed continuously, while the structures themselves are being maintained.  On average, the cells in human bodies are being replaced every seven to ten years.  Trees can survive intact for hundreds and in some cases even thousands of year.  Artificial structures are not self-maintaining.  Houses, cars and so on degrade over time and need explicit renewal.

We absorb a wide variety of matter in our food.  But this is adapted to our specific physiology and bodily needs.  There is a supervisory order that preserves the forms of our bodies over their life cycles and allows them to dissipate, once the cycles are complete.

These factors indicate that matter can be adapted and managed in life forms.  Processes for interacting with and even generating matter do not necessarily need to be explosive (nor implosive).  Life has a higher level of functionality.  It can interact directly with matter in gentle ways.  There are polarity phasing processes that can project matter forms in an orderly way.  They can also facilitate their orderly resolution, to preserve balance in creation.  Destructive dissolution only arises, where polarity resolution isn’t possible.  

Matter is important in the physical universe.  How it got here is also important.  But there are many other factors in creation such as life, intelligence, consciousness and so on, that are also very important.  These are interacting with and participating in creation on an ongoing basis.  They are not confined to nor dependent on a specific creation event.

In this context, there are ongoing or steady state elements in our universe.  These resemble the Steady State theory of creation, developed by British astronomer Fred Hoyle and others.  These elements relate mostly to the open side of the Hybrid Universe discussed in the previous section.  So, the indications are that we have both open and closed realities within our universe.  What we see is which aspect we are looking at.  This resembles the situation with wave – particle duality in physics.  Both are valid, in their respective contexts.  We need to work with both realities and develop a sensible balance between them.