It is logically impossible to provide a natural explanation for how nature came into existence. Such an explanation must assume the existence of nature in its opening premises, thus, committing the circular fallacy. Necessarily, then, the origin of nature must be super-natural (i.e., not natural).
When Lawrence Krauss began promoting the idea of a universe arising from "nothing," it was hardly surprising that he rapidly achieved savior status among atheists such as Richard Dawkins.
My purpose here is to educate those who have been misled into thinking that Krauss's "nothing" is "absolutely nothing at all."
When listening to the various explanations for a universe from nothing, a critical thinker will observe that there must be special requirements for this "nothing."
These include:
- empty space
- a law of quantum gravity
- some sort of "laws of nature"
- a variable of time so that the equations of quantum mechanics can be meaningful
- a "false vacuum" and
- a multiverse from which our universe can expand from some other empty space containing zero energy and mass.
Here is a simple refutation. Rather than engaging in confusing discussions of "nothing" and what it actually includes, there is a much simpler solution.
In physics, both the left and right sides of an equation must have the same dimensions (or be able to be converted to the same dimensions). To quote a tutorial from the University of Guelph Department of Physics:
An equation in which each term has the same dimensions is said to be dimensionally correct. All equations used in any science should be dimensionally correct. The only time you'll encounter one which isn't is if there is an error in the equation.
For a highly simplified example, if we observe someone arguing that space (length L) and time (T) came from nothing, we can simplify the equation to L.T. = [dimensionless]. Since we have Length and Time on the left, and a dimensionless, absolutely nothing at all on the right, the equation is dimensionally incorrect. Therefore, we know that the person has either:
- made an error in the theory or
- their "nothing" is not actually nothing, but contains some form of Length and Time, even if originating from a quantum fluctuation in another universe.
Conclusion: A universe from absolutely nothing at all is incorrect; both the left and right sides of even a complex equation must contain the same dimensions."
EN&V
Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools,
Romans 1:22