X-Message-Number: 17900 From: "Lawrence O'Reilly" <> Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 03:30:07 +0800 Subject: Re Do you like philosophy? [Lawrence O'Reilly] Michael LaTorra wrote: > The best example of something coming from nothing is the spontaneous - but > temporary - creation of subatomic particle pairs (one matter, the other > antimatter) from the "quantum foam" of the vacuum. I cannot agree with this as an example of something coming from nothing. True there may be no matter visibile here, but the vacuum of space in which these particles appear most certainly is something in itself. On the other hand I can't agree with David's feeling that something cannot come from nothing based on the notion that something coming from nothing is absurd. One of the following must be true, either: 1. Something came from nothing or 2. Something always existed. From a common sense point of view both of these seem absurd yet one is necessarily fact. Thus using a common sense point of view as to what is absurd and hence impossible is clearly deficient as a means of proof. Lawrence O'Reilly -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup 1 cent a minute calls anywhere in the U.S.! http://www.net2phone.com/cgi-bin/link.cgi?170 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=17900