X-Message-Number: 20782 Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 12:42:17 -0600 Subject: Re: Donaldson's Hostile Universe From: Brian A Stewart <> Well, I don't know about other universes-- they are well outside my limited expertise--, but I think at least part of what Thomas Donaldson is getting at is entropy. The tendency, at least insofar as this universe goes, is for systems to breakdown, in the long run any given situation will go from a more organized state to a less organized state. In the short run, a system might go against the tendency, but in the long runs things decay. Unless there is outside interference, which is where people have to come in, if they want to survive. Regarding "God"-- if God exists, "he" certainly has a lot of explaining to do! Unfortunately, he probably can not, since is almost certainly not even remotely human! (I rather doubt his existence, in any case.) Brian >In #20770, Thomas Donaldson says "But the world, by which I mean the >Universe itself and other universes if they exist, is NOT indifferent to >us. It is hostile to us, and shows us that every day.." > >FWIW, I've always viewed the universe as a neutral thing that is simply >"there," with an infinite supply of features both comfortable and >uncomfortable. Thomas' description giving it an anthropomorphic >consciousness which intends hostility, is a bit much to swallow. It is >akin to belief in an anthropomorphic deity. Brian A. Stewart-- Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=20782