It is time to remind you that in our attempt to explain the universe we must accept a certain number of given qualities. The smaller the list is then the more easily understood the explanation would be. We have already concluded that saying that a god did it no longer works for us. So far we have accepted the following:
1. The universe (totality of existence) has existed forever.
2. A finite amount of stuff exists within it.
3. The stuff exists as particles consisting of some fully occupied space.
In summary - the universe is made up of particles of fully-occupied-space whose total of empty-space displacement is finite and eternal.
One reason why this list of given properties or phenomena is incomplete is that in reality these stuff particles are full of motion. They do not remain equidistant to one another from one time to the next. We therefore must accept at least another given quality to explain their behavior. Something is forcing these particles to move. "Force", that is it! We must accept a given force. Let us explore the possibility of a single elementary force.
Imagine the universe as only consisting of one particle that is not in motion. What kinds of motion could we give it? We can make it rotate on an axis in either of two possible directions, and we can make the axis continuously change position within the particle. Thus we could have a force making the particle spin or wobble.
We could also have a force that moves the particle from point "A" in space to point "B", but this would be inconsequential since our imagined universe (for this exercise) has no other particles to relate distance with. If we introduce another particle then we would have at least a couple of more options. We could have a force that causes the particles to move away from one another or one that causes the particles to move toward one another. Or we could have a more complex force that alternates the direction of motion; or one that wants the particles to be a specific distance or position from one another and acts accordingly. Again, the simpler the description of the force the easier it is to accept.
Since in reality particles are constantly changing distance with respect to one another then there must be at least one force acting upon them. If there were a force that causes particles to move away from one another then the particles would spread out endlessly into the infinite empty space. If there were a force that caused particles to move toward one another then particles would be colliding with one another.
Remember that we are not creating a force out of nothing--we are saying that we have been given an eternal force.
Gravitation appears to be this force. In fact, gravitation -- the attraction of all matter to all matter, is a universal observation. What is behind this force (or how this force works) has not yet been satisfactorily explained. This could be because gravitation may not be explainable and must just be accepted as being given.
Another imagination exercise will help illustrate the behavior of this force. Imagine the empty universe again. Now place a sphere of full-space in it. If every part of the sphere is trying to get closer to every other part of the sphere, then it would appear that the sphere is trying to shrink into non-existence. This is as if the occupancy of space by "full-space" is an intrusion upon empty-space, and that there is pressure on the surface of the sphere where the full-space meets the empty-space. The larger the sphere the greater the intrusion, and the stronger the squeeze force.
If two spheres were close to each other then together they would be considered an intrusion upon empty-space; and empty-space would appear to squeeze them toward one another. If there were many spheres then collectively they would be considered an intrusion upon empty space and it would appear that the surrounding empty space is trying to squeeze them all into taking up as little space as possible. Here is this squeeze force stated as a given principle of the universe. |
