I am currently reading Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time,” and although I am only one chapter in, it has already begun to make clear questions that were previously muddled in my mind. Not answers, but questions. I have recently become increasingly interested in the concept of ‘time’ and ‘spacetime.’ Though my interest in these subjects go back much further, I can categorically say that Family Guy’s “Road to the Multiverse” episode had a lot to do with my current fascination. Of course while I do wish there was a “Disney Universe” in which I could travel, I know this is sadly not the case. However, the concept of a multiverse is completely logical, and most likely exists. I picked up “A Brief History of Time” this evening and have just put it down to collect my initial thoughts. (*side note, Stephen Hawking has admitted to incorrect information scattered throughout the book and has since published “A Briefer History of Time” but I have yet to purchase it….)

Anyway, on to my questions. This post is in no way an answer to anything, more like a forum for my own brain to sift through ideas and concepts. Of course, I always welcome opinion and shared knowledge, it is, in fact, the only way we grow and learn. Feel free to ‘answer’ or ‘attempt to answer’ any questions I pose.

The hardest part in fully understanding or conceptualizing cosmology and the history of the universe is due to our (as humans) need to label and make tangible, or linguistic sense out of abstract ideas. For instance “time.” How could “time” exist before the beginning of…well…time? In describing the beginning of the Universe Hawking states, “One may say that time had a beginning at the big bang, in the sense that earlier times simply would not be defined.” The big bang, as we all remember from grade school, was the beginning of the universe when it was “infinitesimally small and infinitely dense.” We understand that the universe is expanding, and so we can say that ‘time’ had its beginning when the universe did. Of course, if you are similar to me, you try to picture the beginning and wonder, ‘well what came “before” the beginning?’ This is the problem we will continue to have until the “end of time” (if one exists, spacetime loops and compact spacetime pockets are theories that I, for one, hope actually exist) due to our inability to visualize abstractions. Now the question becomes, is the ‘beginning’ really an abstraction, or just something we don’t fully understand…yet? Is that question abstract enough for you?

At one point in chapter one, Hawking names the ultimate goal of science as the development of one unifying theory of everything; one single theory to explain existence and the universe. He identifies the two current, and contradictory, theories, “the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.” There are “breakthroughs” in each school of thought every day by the world’s leading intellectual minds, and each day we get closer to a unifying idea, if one even exists. However, there remains another theory, and much of humanity will demand its inclusion, that of a religious nature. Where does spirituality and God play into any of this? For me the question arises because lately I have been equally fascinated by the idea of reincarnation and the concept of the soul. Of course I have no answers, I have no firm belief in the idea, but it becomes an interesting layer to add to the discussion. If the Universe is expanding, if string and M theories are correct, if other parallel universes exist, if compact spacetime pockets exist and time travel could eventually be proven possible…where does the concept of the soul come in? To explain why we, as humanity, exist? If time, in fact, has no beginning or end, and is an abstraction in itself….are we an abstraction of time?

Now for a brief “How I Met Your Mother” break for more barney stinsonisms…then on to chapter 2…..

“avatar was something amazing- it made me wish for so much more. i want to fly on colored dragons and i want to put an end to war. sadly this will never happen, but i’m still hopeful for that dragon….”

Avatar really was something amazing. Visually, conceptually….amazing. The score is fantastic, the technological aspects inspiring, the acting well done, the scenery and imagination behind it, exceptional. 3-D didn’t add much in my book, but that is for another discussion. I don’t want to delve into the technology or analyze the film, all of it is worth seeing for yourself. Instead, I want to mention some of the thoughts and questions that went through my head, during and after the film.

MULTIVERSE THEORY

It was incredible the amount of imagination that went into every detail of creating this made-up world of Pandora. The language, the visual appeal, the creatures, the Omaticayan people…and it made me revisit a topic that lately I have been doing a lot of research and thinking on: cosmology and the creation of our Universe, as well as the possibility (and probability) of the existence of a multiverse. Even parallel universes, co-existing in other dimensions. It really seems highly improbable (and fairly naive to think) that we are the only ‘creatures’ in existence, and that our Universe is the only one out there. “We” as a human species try to tie down our knowledge based on tangible, scientific evidence, except when it comes to the idea of religion, which we can only base solely on faith. Yet anything other than “our religion’s explanation” is pushed aside as impossible, unprovable. Why can’t we be just as ’sure’ of the existence of other alien races and multi-dimensions and base it on faith? The human race started savage and less-knowledgeable and look where we are today. James Cameron came up with the idea for Avatar in the late 90s, but decided not to pursue filming until the technology was perfected enough to truly showcase his vision. Here we are, 10 years later, having “perfected (however, I use that term loosely)” that technology. Even as the economy crashes, and we still “thrive (if you will allow me that word)” on war, every day we, as a human race are learning, expanding our knowledge of the universe, inventing new technologies, getting closer to curing diseases, etc. I would like to believe and have FAITH that in the next few decades we will develop the ability to see and understand beyond what we currently know, and hopefully be able to find and prove the existence of these other worlds, worlds/dimensions/universes/races that I know must be out there. We can’t be so egotistical to think that they aren’t.

WAR

During the final fight scene, as Neytiri’s looks around, we see through her eyes the pain and suffering, on both sides, that is occurring because of this war. While continuing to watch and feel for both sides, a thought ran through my head briefly and I filed it away to think on at a later moment, which, in turn, caused me to revisit it immediately. I sat there, watching, thinking to myself- here I am watching this movie with my 3D glasses, next to my brother, with my energy drink in the cupholder, and somewhere, across the ocean, at this very moment, someone’s brother/sister/friend/mother/father/husband/lover is fighting a war. I’m not the most politically active person on the planet, i’ll admit it. At that very moment though, I took the moment to recognize the fact that there are those out there RIGHT NOW dodging bullets, firing a gun, losing their life, in a war that you may or may not support (but always support our troops, no matter your opinion on the war). But we don’t think about it, and I was ready to file that thought away until after the movie, which was essentially the very point I was making. We file away the negative to think about at a later, more convenient time. Of course, we shouldn’t be consumed with negativity, that isn’t the point of life, that isn’t our purpose. Some people are not as fortunate as I am, I know this. Some people are FORCED to live in a life constantly surrounded by pain and suffering and negativity. I haven’t discovered the meaning of life, or why some people suffer more than others. (*** side note to follow) Life is about balance. Some people choose to dedicate their lives to end suffering in whatever way they can. I believe its about all doing our part, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. We aren’t all on the same intellectual plane, we can’t all cure cancer. But we can all raise awareness, we can all take a moment out of our lives to acknowledge others that are doing what they can. We can just stop to make sure we are aware of how lucky we truly are.

***SIDE NOTE-
This reminds me of a conversation I was having with my mom the other day regarding reincarnation. The Eastern theory of reincarnation is not as cut and dry to understand when it comes to the idea of a ’soul.’ They don’t believe the ’soul’ retains any form of personality, it is more of an abstract concept involving karma. To my understanding (please feel free to correct me if I have misinterpreted it..), as best as I can explain it, they believe in the ‘reincarnation of karma.’ Which, for the purposes of this side note, might be a viable explanation as to why some people suffer more than others. Their “past life” was one of evil or negativity that karma recycled into punishment for their “current life.”

ONE CAN DREAM

One last note- yes, go see Avatar. Yes, it made me want to have a glass of wine and discuss string theory and cosmology with someone again. Yes, it made me want to do something about suffering, and acknowledge the men and women giving their lives to the war we are currently engaged in. But damnit, most of all, it made me want my own colorful flying dragon-like creature. Fuck, I want to fly.

x
jack N box

I’m sure it’s happened to you, it’s happened to all of us. You’ve lost your job, your lover, a friend, been passed over for a promotion, or didn’t get that role. Then someone comes along, either the one who has “stolen” this elusive happiness from you, or someone connected to them- and they rub it in your face. At least, this is how we perceive it during the “mourning” period. A direct attack on us- On our abilities, our intelligence, our beauty, our self worth.

How rude.

When this occurs the first thing that goes through most people’s minds (right after, “I’ll kill a bitch….”) is something along the lines of “show no weakness! I can’t let them know I’m jealous…or hurt…or upset at all.” It is human nature to have weakness, but it is also human nature to not want to show it. So what do we do? We pretend to be better off than we are. We lie. We do everything we can to say “I’m not jealous.” The funny part is, we all do it, so it isn’t as if we are getting away with anything. In the end, the mere act of responding to whatever passing comment (or in this day and age, “posting” on a social networking site…) proves to the other party that we are in fact jealous, or hurt, or upset at all. However, we are human- we care, we have weakness, and we try our damnedest not to show it. So who is going to fault us for this? No one. We know when someone is trying to make us jealous, just as know when we are trying to make someone else jealous. Sometimes it feels good to win. We also know when we have hurt someone, just as they know when they have hurt us. So there is no shame in pretending to be better off than we are. No shame in only discussing the “positive, happy” aspects of our lives through the pain. “Proving” our strength to the other party, in fact, assists us in proving our strength to ourselves.

In the end, we are all stronger than we think we are.

jack N box