From my continuing series on the universe that materialism ends up with:
In 1957 physicist Hugh Everett suggested the “Many Worlds” hypothesis as a proposed interpretation of quantum mechanics. He suggested that the universe constantly splits into different futures each time a subatomic particle goes one way as opposed to the other. Everett thus promptly exited theoretical physics.
However now, some hope that combining Everett’s “many worlds” theory with the multiverse will strengthen current cosmology. New Scientist’s Justin Mullins explains:
Two of the strangest ideas in modern physics — that the cosmos constantly splits into parallel universes in which every conceivable outcome of every event happens, and the notion that our universe is part of a larger multiverse — have been unified into a single theory.
In other words, not only is there an infinite number of universes, but they come into existence every time you turn right instead of left. More.
Oh, and
By the way, there is life after death: Some clever beings might survive our universe’s predicted demise, provided they develop suitable technologies. Apocalypses are also on offer: Stephen Hawking doubts humans will survive another thousand years without escaping Earth.
And God is back too, but not like you remember him … God turns out to be just one more note of cacophony in the transcendent goofiness.
No, these are not scrawls from a psych ward. They are but a few among the many speculations grandfathered as science by materialism (methodological naturalism) and taken seriously in popular science media.
Leading the world in space exploration has given way to leading it in space speculation. And we aren’t short of people who believe that to be an advance.
Here’s the series to date:
What has materialism done for science?
Big Bang exterminator wanted, will train
Copernicus, you are not going to believe who is using your name. Or how.
“Behold, countless Earths sail the galaxies … that is, if you would only believe …”
Don’t let Mars fool you. Those exoplanets teem with life!
But surely we can’t conjure an entire advanced civilization?
How do we grapple with the idea that ET might not be out there?
Not only is earth one nice planet among many, but our entire universe is lost in a crowd
The multiverse: Where everything turns out to be true, except philosophy and religion
As if the multiverse wasn’t bizarre enough …meet Many Worlds
-O’Leary for News