The center is by definition the point that is equidistant from the circumference. From our perspective we can't see any edge of the universe. If there was one, you'd have to get "out" of the universe to see it, but you can't because you are a part of it.

Interesting. I'm curious as to why space would push harder against me on Earth than when I'm on the moon. At first I might guess that the size of the earth draws more push, but since it is me being pushed regardless of what I am on, and I am the same size in either place, why the difference? — James Riley

The Earth is more massive, so it curves space-time more.

The other problem I have with it is the way physisists say "to ask what came before the big bang is a bad question", because time only exists once the ball is rolling. If nothing existed before this singularity, there would still be nothing now! — Razorback kitten

They don't say that nothing existed before the singularity, they say they don't know.

The CMB is the only good evidense for the Big Bang Theory. — Razorback kitten

I believe the redshift of galaxies, considered to be a Doppler effect, is the basis for the Big Bang theory.

As someone mentioned it before the uniformity of the CMB is a problem for the BBT. It requires the theory of inflation, extremely rapid faster-than-light expansion of the universe to explain this homogeneity.

So, rather than gravity pulling me down onto the earth, space is pushing me against it? — James Riley

Yes

Is there a center on a spherical surface? I believe every point on it can be the center, so it should be the same if you add one more dimension. Every point in space can be considered the center.

A misconception I had was to think that I am in or inside the universe when I'm actually a part of it. In order to be inside something I need an outside, however from my point of view the universe is all the space that exists. If there's an outside then we don't know it's nature nor can we ever go there physically.

Also when we look in any direction we see the CMB, the Cosmic Microwave Background, which is the earliest electromagnetic radiation of the universe.

Does it mean that the universe can't expand indefinitely?

Not sure if this is relevant but I will mention it. Cosmologists have thought for a while that the shape of the universe was flat. A new study hints at a spherical shape instead.
https://www.universetoday.com/143956/new-research-suggests-that-the-universe-is-a-sphere-and-not-flat-after-all/

You may have agreed to treat me without asking me because of the oath you swear, but I don't believe this oath is without conditions. It works well in normal times, but when resources become scarce the agreement should be allowed to change. Why? Because dead doctors won't be very useful for society.

For example, the change could be caring first for the ones who have taken steps to protect themselves and others(and I understand how stupid that would be). How do you enforce it? You can't, so you have to take a different approach, like lockdowns (which in my opinion are the result of countries being totally unprepared for a pandemic)

Doctors usually treat anybody even people who brought the illness upon themselves. But when you don't have enough of them to care for everybody, it would be fair that at least the ones who took more risks would get treatment last. However, there's no way to keep track.

You and Brian are free to take a chance at infecting each other, but you have to assume all the risks involved which includes becoming an extra burden on an already overwhelmed health care system.
I guess, you can meet with Brian, for as long as you don't seek medical care if you need it. The problem is that nobody can stop you from getting treatment.

The set of covid-19 control measures was designed to prevent scarce resources--icu departments in particular, and hospitals in general, from being overwhelmed. — Bitter Crank

Absolutely. If hospitals are overwhelmed you end up with a much bigger and long lasting problem.

Also, I'm wondering what the anti-masker/lockdown people would say if the virus had been spread by terrorists, using let's say a biological bomb, because I don't remember hearing too much bitching when civil liberties and privacy were permanently eroded as a consequence of the attacks on 9/11 and such. It would probably go like, "Wear a mask or you're helping the terrorists!"

So God can't find us? He has the ability to search for us but not enough time to find us. That's almost comical.
As a matter of fact he might not even know we're here.
He'd better not find out, or else he's going to be really pissed.

Hi Jake,

I understand that my remark is besides the point. I like your example about intelligence better than the one about space.
The problem I have with the god debate is that I believe that there are too many definitions of god, usually full of contradictions. If I had not been told by others about the concept of god, I would have never thought of it.

The larger point is that if it's true that the yes/no question at the heart of the God debate is inherently flawed then all the competing answers being argued about may be essentially meaningless, that is, a complete waste of time. — Jake

Couldn't that apply to a lot of other questions as well?

I don't think we're made of space, it's more like we are made of matter that occupies space at a certain time. Regardless, I believe space exists.

But as soon as you introduce the concept of now, it seems you need something to start time. — Devans99

"Now" is only relevant to the observer, the one subjected to time. That's why time is tricky, you're made of it.

I believe time exist inside the feedback loop, but the loop doesn't exist in time. If the loop is timeless, then nothing ever started it.

Aside from drawing it, I don't think there's any beginning on a circle, and that's why circles are so cool by the way!

You still need continuity of the self in order to become unconscious and regain consciousness again. Where is the self when your body dies? — Purple Pond

It looks likes it's not there anymore.

That poses a problem for circular time. Where does the cause begin in the whole circle? — Purple Pond

I used the term feedback loop earlier. What says that existence should have a beginning? All we see is causality so that's all we need I believe. The loop thing is just satisfying because it partly solves the infinity problem. It's finite but has no apparent boundaries.

I think it is a poor choice of words. How about, what are the chances for a conscious existence after physical death?

I think perhaps you can differentiate before from after because the cause always precedes the effect.

Sorry, I should have said reality instead of universe. For now, recent observations rule out the probabilty of a Big Crunch because it doesn't appear that there's enough density to fight back the expansion. I know, bummer...
And what would happen after the crunch? A Big Bounce? Time reversing? They all imply boundaries, I'm only talking about a smooth causal reality loop.

I believe that without doing some serious math, we just can't answer the big questions. Mostly because we can't have a good perspective on reality, as we are not inside reality like a foreign body, we are part of it.

So, I'm afraid all we have left is hope.

Imagine you're in a causality feedback loop universe. Causality is only necessary for the guy in the loop, not for the loop to exist. And your chances of living after death are 100%!

I have mental experiences, therefore I am.

Which of these mental experiences am I the most sure of? Physical sensory perception is not to be trusted at first glance, as dreams teach us for example, but also common sense.

What about physical pain? It is always a reality check as far as I am concerned. But sometimes pain also happens in dreams for no physical reason, and it seems real because the emotional pain is real. You can't mistake an emotion for another, you can't hallucinate an emotion, if you think you feel good, you just do.

Emotions, I think is what we are.

I feel therefore I am, or I have emotions therefore I am, might be better ways to put it then. I can be sure that my emotions do exist. And that maybe they precede my intellect, but I only say that from personal experience.

This description of the sensations looks a lot like the ones I feel when I'm having a WILD(Wake Induced Lucid Dream). I'm sure most of you know what a lucid dream is, otherwise look it up. A WILD means that you're staying conscious and aware all the way to the dreaming state.

A few times a year, as I fall asleep, I start feeling/hearing a vibration in my head and ears. It comes in waves and gets more intense every time until it is almost unbearable and rather scary. I used to open my eyes to stop it because of the fear, but one time I decided to ride the vibration all the way through. Once I reached the highest intensity, all of a sudden my body felt like it was doing back flips in zero gravity, faster and faster and there I was, in a dream and lucid about it, where everything looked as real as when I was awake. On a side note, even though it looks real, I'm unable to focus on small details, they get blurry and things change.

My point here, is that I don't think I'm astrally projecting, even though I can fly and even go to outer space, things aren't as real as they look, they don't resist scrutiny.
I believe the sensation/noise/vibration is nothing more than your sensory perception shutting down from your brain.
I've never seen a tunnel, but I've seen angels which were nothing more than the product of my imagination I believe.

Yes, because if a guy falls asleep in a forest, the trees can still hear the symphony.

Unfortunately a lot of bad musicians play following their own subjective time rather than the collective one. This is the main problem when playing music as a group.

By world you mean civilization I believe, because the world runs better than clockwork.
I don't think humans can fully live on subjective time as we're reminded constantly of the regularity of time through the natural cycles that we can't help but witness, such as day and night, or the phases of the moon.

Music already runs on subjective time though, at the speed of the conductor, and the speed of sound. Performances don't usually occur with a metronome.

The funny thing to me, as a musician I feel like listening to music and playing it appears to slow down time.

That's the very reason why we have clocks.

Back to the OP, I don't think it counts as time travel except into future. Putting your room back in order is still the effect that comes after a cause. The direction of causality is forward in time, unless information can be sent faster than the speed of light.

Reading the book or watching the movie might help explain the context. Christopher McCandless wasn't a philosopher and the quote is just a note he scribbled for himself on his journals while he was alone in the Alaskan wilderness. I think what he was getting at was that happiness is more intense when you can share it. Would you rather be by yourself to watch your favorite sports team win, or be with a group of friends?
Christopher McCandless tried to escape the negative aspects of civilization and social life by giving it up all together, to actually find out that he needed a bit of it.
He was found dead in an abandoned bus somewhere in Alaska.