Source: “The Fifth Dimension: An Exploration Of The Spiritual Realm”, By John Hick*,* Danforth Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, 2013.
The provided material delves into the profound mysteries surrounding the universe's existence and form, particularly in light of the Big Bang theory. It challenges the notion that science can fully explain "why" the universe takes its specific shape, despite advances in cosmology. A central theme is the fine-tuning of the universe's fundamental constants, suggesting an extraordinary improbability that conditions would align to support life, prompting the question of whether this implies design or merely represents a fortunate outcome within a "multiverse" of possibilities. The text also argues against a perceived conflict between science and religion, asserting that scientific methods are inherently limited to the physical realm and cannot disprove non-material realities, suggesting a "further dimension of reality" beyond empirical observation. Ultimately, the source highlights the continuing ambiguity of the universe, advocating for awe and wonder in the face of its inexplicable nature.
This document reviews key themes and ideas from the provided source, focusing on the nature of cosmic existence, the question of its apparent fine-tuning, and the perceived relationship between scientific and religious inquiry.
Here are 15 major topics from the source, each summarized and designated as requested:
Topic 1: The Fundamental Mystery of Existence and the Universe's Specific Form The source explores deep philosophical questions about existence, asserting that asking "Why is there something rather than nothing?" is meaningless because no conceivable answer exists. However, it proposes that a valid question is "Why does that which exists take the specific form of this universe in which we find ourselves?" This leads into the concept of the Big Bang, described as the explosion of a tiny, dense particle twelve to fifteen billion years ago, initiating the still-expanding universe. The text raises profound questions about the Big Bang: what initiated it if it was an absolute beginning, whether something can truly emerge from nothing, and if the universe can be self-explanatory or if a prior cause must have existed.
Topic 2: Cosmological Theories Regarding the Origin of Time and Universe's Nature Some cosmological theories suggest there was no "before the big bang" because time itself is a dimension of the physical universe and began with the Big Bang. In this view, the universe is a closed space-time entity with no spatial or temporal "outside," thereby negating the need for a prior cause. Despite this, the source points out that the question of why the universe takes its specific form persists, as other forms are conceivable and have been proposed by cosmologists. Examples include the now-abandoned steady-state theory (though noting that abandoned theories can sometimes return) and the possibility of a cyclical universe with an endless series of expansions and contractions, each with its own "big bang" and "big crunch." The text emphasizes that merely describing these possibilities does not explain why existence takes one particular form over another.
Topic 3: Science's Progressive Nature and the Resolution of Current Mysteries From a naturalistic humanist perspective, the existence of multiple competing cosmological theories and ongoing debate signifies that current knowledge is incomplete, hence the "mystery." However, this view posits that such a state is typical of scientific progress. It expresses a hope that, as science advances, cosmologists will eventually establish one theory that best fits observations and demonstrates that the universe could only have taken that specific form. At that point, what is currently a mystery would cease to be one, because the definitive explanation would be known. The source, however, qualifies this as a "hope" and a "promissory note" rather than an achieved reality.
Topic 4: The Fine-Tuning of Initial Conditions for Universe Development Accepting the Big Bang theory, the source delves into the concept that the universe's expansion and subsequent development were determined by highly precise initial conditions. It highlights that even slight variations in these fundamental conditions would have prevented the formation of galaxies, planets, life, and ultimately, human existence. This indicates a remarkable sensitivity of the universe's current state to its initial parameters, suggesting that its form was not arbitrary but contingent on an extremely specific "recipe" from the outset.
Topic 5: Specific Examples of Cosmological Constants and Parameters The text provides concrete examples of the precise conditions necessary for the universe as we know it to exist. One critical example is the degree of non-uniformity in the initial state, referred to as Q. For a universe of galaxies to develop, Q had to be exceptionally close to 0.00001. If Q were much smaller, galactic "ecosystems" would never form, leaving a dark and featureless universe. Conversely, if Q were much larger, the universe would be turbulent and violent, forming massive lumps that wouldn't fragment into stars. Other crucial conditions mentioned include the electric charge of the electron, the ratio of electron and proton masses, and the strength of the strong force between nuclei. These are just some of the many parameters that required exact values.
Topic 6: The Concept of a "Biophilic" Universe and Its Mystery The extraordinary precision of the universe's physical constants and initial conditions leads to the observation that it appears "designed" to produce intelligent life. This concept is termed a "biophilic universe" – one hospitable to life. Even scientists like Martin Rees, who do not believe in a creator God, acknowledge the "extraordinary series of coincidences" necessary for human existence. The prerequisites for life, such as long-lived stable stars and a complex periodic table of atoms, are highly sensitive to physical laws. A slightly different "recipe" from the Big Bang would have resulted in "stillborn universes" lacking atoms, chemistry, or planets, or universes too short-lived or empty for anything complex to evolve. This distinctive and special "recipe" is deemed a "fundamental mystery" that should not be dismissed.
Topic 7: The Improbability of a Life-Permitting Universe by Chance The source emphasizes the extreme improbability of a universe like ours arising purely by chance. Citing physicist Paul Davies, it notes that the odds against a starry cosmos alone are astronomically high (one followed by a thousand billion billion billion zeros). Adding to this, the further improbability of the universe producing beings capable of conceiving and worshipping God leads many to question if such an "enormously improbable occurrence" could truly happen by chance, suggesting instead the possibility of deliberate design.