Metaphysics – KNOWING GOD'S PATH

Logical Proof for Existence of a Creator

Rabbi Bachya’s logical proof for the existence of a Creator of the Universe:

“There are three premises which lead to the inference that this world has a Creator who created it from nothing:
1. An object cannot make itself.
2. Beginnings (causes) are limited in number; therefore, they must have a First Beginning (First cause) which had no beginning (cause) before it.
3. Anything composite must have been brought into existence (cannot be eternal, i.e. without beginning).”

(“Duties of the Heart”, Gate of Unity of God, by Rabbi Bachya, 11th Century C.E.)

Here are two questions I asked on the ChatGPT artificial intelligence system, and the answers I received.

It is astounding that the book “Duties of the Heart”, written about 1000 years ago, is well validated by an ultramodern intelligent design computer!

Q1. User

How much evidence exists that the Universe had a beginning in the finite past?

A1. ChatGPT

As of my last update in September 2021, there was substantial scientific evidence supporting the idea that the universe had a beginning in the finite past. The prevailing model that explains this concept is the Big Bang theory, which is widely accepted by the scientific community. Here are some key lines of evidence supporting the idea of a finite past for the universe: 1. Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation: One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the Big Bang is the detection of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. The CMB is a faint glow of radiation that permeates the universe, which is the afterglow of the hot and dense early universe. Its discovery in 1965 provided strong support for the idea that the universe was once in a highly compressed and hot state. 2. Hubble’s Law and Expansion of the Universe: The observations made by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s showed that distant galaxies were moving away from us, and the farther away they were, the faster they were receding. This expansion of the universe implies that if we go backward in time, the universe must have been denser and smaller, eventually reaching a point of infinite density, known as the singularity. 3. Abundance of Light Elements: The Big Bang theory also successfully predicts the observed abundance of light elements (hydrogen, helium, and trace amounts of lithium) in the universe. This consistency between the predictions and observations supports the idea of an early, extremely high-temperature state for the universe. 4. Cosmic Large-Scale Structure: The distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters across the universe also supports the concept of an expanding universe from a hot, dense state. Numerical simulations based on the Big Bang theory can reproduce the large-scale structure observed in the cosmos. 5. Observations of Distant Objects: Astronomers have observed extremely distant and ancient objects, such as quasars, that are at distances so vast that their light has taken billions of years to reach us. These observations provide a glimpse into the universe’s early history, supporting the idea of a finite past. It’s important to note that while the Big Bang theory provides a well-supported explanation for the universe’s beginning, the exact nature of the initial singularity and what might have happened at that point are still subjects of active research and exploration. Scientists are continually working to refine our understanding of the universe’s early moments and its subsequent evolution. Therefore, it’s always wise to stay updated with the latest scientific research and discoveries to understand the current state of the evidence.

Q2. User

Can an object create itself?

A2. ChatGPT

As of our current understanding of the laws of physics and the principles governing the universe, it is not possible for an object to create itself out of nothing. This concept goes against the law of conservation of mass and energy, which is a fundamental principle in physics. The law of conservation of mass and energy states that the total amount of mass and energy in a closed system remains constant over time. In other words, matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed; they can only be transformed from one form to another. This principle also applies to the creation of objects. For an object to come into existence, it must either be formed from pre-existing matter and energy or arise from processes and interactions within the existing system. In the context of the universe’s origin, the prevailing scientific model, the Big Bang theory, suggests that the universe started from an extremely hot and dense state, and it has been expanding and evolving since then. While there are fascinating and complex processes occurring in the quantum realm where particles can appear and disappear spontaneously due to quantum fluctuations, these processes still adhere to the conservation laws. Matter and energy involved in such processes are borrowed from the vacuum or other sources and must be returned, maintaining the overall conservation. In summary, based on our current scientific understanding, objects cannot create themselves out of nothing. The creation or emergence of objects and systems involves pre-existing elements or processes within the framework of the laws of physics.

Revival of Metaphysics

In the modern age, certain concepts previously studied in the field of “Metaphysics” have been largely abandoned and replaced with a mathematical, mechanistic view of the natural order. “Scientism” is a type of modern materialist, atheist belief that our scientific knowledge alone provides us a complete knowledge of reality.

In prior ages, the study of “Metaphysics” was valued as a knowledge system that involved a rational investigation of the general attributes of reality. This study included the attributes of physical and non-physical reality, and the study of the attributes of God and the ultimate causes of what constitutes reality.

Medieval (Aristotelian) Metaphysics can provide a strong impetus to an ethical, monotheistic view of the Universe. This is why certain great rabbis, such as Maimonides and Rabbeinu Bachya, utilized this Metaphysics to prove the existence and oneness of God. A revival of Metaphysics as a legitimate branch of human knowledge would serve an important role in reviving monotheistic beliefs and ending the monopoly of “scientism” on defining reality.

In the Modern Age, Metaphysics (regrettably) has been largely abandoned. The “scientism” that replaced Metaphysics at the start of the Modern Age has provided a huge tailwind to atheist, materialist belief systems.

Modern “scientism” has created a system of “mathematical materialism” and abandoned any of the useful concepts of “Metaphysics” that were included in the scientific thought of the past. In modern “scientism”, the only reality recognized are material phenomenon that are describable with mathematical equations.

By abandoning Metaphysics concepts, and focusing science solely on developing mathematical, material explanations of Nature, modern science has actually created gaping holes in the ability of man to recognize a Creator of the Universe and also to comprehend the Universe. This approach has resulted in the current “scientism” where science is relied on to explain EVERYTHING about reality and the Universe, even though science has no ability to do so.

Instead of atheist scientism, a revival of some aspects of metaphysics needs to occur if we seek to both maintain ethical monotheism and also to maximize our understanding of the Universe.

Metaphysics vs Scientism II

Dr. Edward Feser is a well known Catholic philosophy professor and Aristotelian who seems to be arguing for the revival of Metaphysics. I am inclined to support some of his Metaphysics ideas as they highlight the major flaws in what today we would call “scientism” and materialism. Dr. Feser has explained that “scientism is the view that science alone gives us knowledge of reality.” In contrast to scientism, “Metaphysics is the rational investigation of the general structure of reality and the ultimate causes of things”.

Dr. Feser has explained that Metaphysics is “the most fundamental discipline of all, more fundamental than epistemology, physics, biology, or any other philosophical or scientific discipline”.

I recommend Dr. Feser’s excellent book “Aristotle’s Revenge” – “The Metaphysical Foundations of Physical and Biological Science”. Studying that book has opened up some new intellectual vistas for me. Dr. Feser’s book explains in clear modern English some of the (previously) mysterious concepts in medieval metaphysics that I had encountered while studying Maimonides’s extraordinary the book Guide to the Perplexed sefer.

Reading Dr. Feser’s book, initially mysterious metaphysical concepts such as potential and actual, matter and form, and efficient cause and final cause started to come to life for me.

I found especially fascinating Dr. Feser’s eloquent criticisms of modern science for its abandonment of ancient Metaphysics concepts. It appears that this abandonment of metaphysics paved a clear road for modern science to promote atheism, materialism, and contempt for religion.

The ideas in “Aristotle’s Revenge” have alerted me as to a possible significant factor in the large scale abandonment of Judaism by many Jews who, in the last few hundred years, have been greatly influenced by modern atheist “science” and materialism. I have become more aware of the necessity for religious Jews to become reacquainted with certain Metaphysics concepts, and thus hopefully reinvigorate Torah monotheism that has been under attack by atheist modern “science”.

Metaphysics vs Scientism

Before the modern era, many philosopher/scientists studied what people in the modern age would call “metaphysics”. Metaphysics” might be roughly defined as the study of the most general structure of reality, along with the study of the ultimate causes of the various forms of existence.

Scientism might be defined as a a philosophy and world view where science is assumed to explain EVERYTHING we know about reality and the Universe. In truth though scientism has no ability to do so. Modern “scientism”, which developed in the last four hundred years or so, has created a system of “mathematical materialism” and abandoned any of the useful concepts of “Metaphysics” that were included in scientific thought of the past. In modern “scientism”, the only reality recognized are material phenomenon that are observable and describable with mathematical equations.

If metaphysics can be reintroduced, we will much more able capable of increasing our understanding of the Universe than we would be by relying on “scientism”.