There is a really big mystery about exactly what happened before the big bang. We know with a high degree of certainty that the cosmos, or at least the part we can see, started out as an infinitely small, hot and dense speck of matter and energy that expanded over billions of years into what we can see today. We know this because we have been able to trace the universe back through time to a few millions of years after an event measurable due to cosmic background radiation. What we don’t know at present is the mechanisms behind what makes the cosmos work with enough fidelity that we could extrapolate understandings about why the big bang banged or what might exist beyond our technological ability to ever see or measure directly.
The ideas that there was nothing before the big bang is an absurdity that can easily be traced back of human tendencies to see ourselves as central to everything else around us. Though we naturally tend to see everything from the perspective of looking out through human eyes, that view has been repeatedly disproven by science. Maybe that is why some of us find science so unsettling. But the earth is not flat and we are not at the center of the universe. And though we have been forced to accept a bit of modesty after realizing everything does not revolve around us, when it comes to realizing who and what we really are and are true place within the scheme of things, we still have not learned our lesson.
The same type of thinking capable of reaching the false conclusion that humanity is at the center of the universe can also be found alive and well in misguided concepts that life only exists on earth or that there was nothing before the big bang. The only thing that supports either idea is the irrationalism that if we cannot see something hidden under the table then a valid view is to assume there is nothing under the table. This way of thinking completely ignores the valid and highly rational thinking processes whereby we extrapolate from things we do know; things history and common sense tells us we will learn about later.
It is perfectly logical and rational to assume that the existence of evolved life on earth indicates that the same holds true on the billions of trillions of similar planets throughout the cosmos. While it is certainly true that the probability that evolution following the exact same path as what took place on earth over billions of years is highly unlikely and therefore other lifeforms would likely take on an almost infinite variety based upon the specific conditions and events that shaped their evolutionary paths, our uniqueness in the scheme of things should never exclude countless other lifeforms from existence.
There is absolutely no evidence that can support a conclusion that life on earth or life in general is the exception rather than the norm. And yet we seem to easily accept the premise that the default understanding should be that we are alone in the universe unless proven otherwise. Did I miss something here? It seems to me that our existence is in itself worth something and in fact evidences something. Is it not a more rational position to view the fact of life on earth as proof that life exists not only here but throughout the universe in a broader range than the life sustained by earth’s specific environment.
We already know ourselves well enough to understand our well-established tendency to reach biased conclusions that embellish our importance within the scheme of things. Crowning ourselves with the crown of specialty only evidences our willingness or need to do so rather than anything special about us. Taking all of this into consideration is like putting a corrective lens on the Hubble Space Telescope. If you can see beyond human distortions, suddenly a much clearer picture of the reality we were born into begins to emerge.
Based upon the above it is rational to conclude:
- Humanity tends to see things from a biased perspective limited by our misguided understandings of the reality around us.
- Our very existence evidences the universe is teaming with countless other lifeforms both more and less intellectually and socially advanced than ourselves.
- The big bang did not occur from nothing but rather occurred in the normal course of countless other big bangs arising from events we have yet to fully understand.
- Immortality is improbable if not theoretically impossible. There is no evidence that anything does or could ever last forever including time itself.
It is nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.
You guys go on without me! I’m going to go look for more stuff to steal! You guys realize you live in a sewer, right? Hey, tell me something. You’ve got all this money. How come you always dress like you’re doing your laundry? If rubbin’ frozen dirt in your crotch is wrong, hey I don’t wanna be right.
Fetal stemcells, aren’t those controversial? You don’t know how to do any of those. What’s with you kids? Every other day it’s food, food, food. Alright, I’ll get you some stupid food. You won’t have time for sleeping.
Oh yeah, good luck with that. Hey, tell me something. You’ve got all this money. How come you always dress like you’re doing your laundry? Explain that. Leela, Bender, we’re going grave robbing.
A Bicyclops Built For Two
I love you, buddy! Yep, I remember. They came in last at the Olympics, then retired to promote alcoholic beverages! The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
- I saw you with those two “ladies of the evening” at Elzars.
- For the last time, I don’t like lilacs! Your first wife was the one.
- But the flesh is spongy and spanac bruised?
Oh, all right, I am. But if anything happens to me, tell them I died robbing some old man. When will that be? Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that’s what you’re best at, ain’t it? I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Daylight and everything. This is the worst part. The calm before the battle. I saw you with those two “ladies of the evening” at Elzars. Explain that. Leela, Bender, we’re going grave robbing. Who am I making this out to?
It’s nice to just embrace the natural beauty within you. Who am I making this out to? Shut up and get to the point!
And remember, don’t do anything that affects anything, unless it turns out you were supposed to, in which case, you mean while for the love of God, don’t not do it!
Doomsday device? Ah, now the ball’s in Farnsworth’s court! You mean while I’m sleeping in it? Shut up and get to the point!
I’ve got to find a way to escape the horrible ravages of youth. Suddenly, Going to the bathroom like clockwork, every three hours. And those jerks at Social Security stopped sending me checks. Who am I making this out to?
They came in last at the Olympics, then retired to promote alcoholic beverages! I haven’t felt much of anything since my guinea pig died. This is the worst part. The calm before the battle.
Yes, if you make it look like an electrical fire. When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all. Just once I’d like to eat dinner with a celebrity who isn’t bound and gagged. I guess if you want children beaten, you have to do it yourself. Interesting. No, wait, the other thing: tedious.
I haven’t felt much of anything since my guinea pig died. Quite possible. We live long and are celebrated science. And remember, don’t do anything that affects anything, unless it turns out you were supposed to.
Ah, computer dating. It’s like pimping, but you rarely have to use the phrase “upside your head.” Who am I making this out to?
You mean while I’m sleeping in it? Throw her in the brig. Michelle, I don’t regret this, but I both rue.
Daylight and everything. I just want to talk. It has nothing to do with mating. Fry, that doesn’t make sense. So I really am important? How I feel when I’m drunk is correct?
Good man. Nixon’s pro-war and pro-family. And then the battle’s not so bad? And remember, don’t do anything that affects anything, unless it turns out you were supposed to, in which case, for the love of God, don’t not do it! Shut up and get to the point! Hey, tell me something. You’ve got all this money. How come you always dress like you’re doing your laundry? I’m sure those windmills will keep them cool.
Yes, if you make it look like an electrical fire. When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all. I love you, buddy! Please, Don-Bot look into your hard drive, and open your mercy file! You guys aren’t Santa! You’re not even robots. How dare you lie in front of Jesus? Hey, whatcha watching? That’s right, baby. I ain’t your loverboy Flexo, the guy you love so much. You even love anyone pretending to be him!
Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out.
Kids have names? That could be beautiful soul sitting naked on a couch. If I could just learn to play this stupid thing. No! I want to live! There are still too many things I don’t own! Yeah, I do that with my stupidness. You can see how I lived before I met you. Do a flip!
Hello Morbo, how’s the family? I’ve been there. My folks were always on me to groom myself and wear underpants. What am I, the pope? I love this planet! I’ve got wealth, fame, and access to the depths of sleaze that those things bring. We’ll need to have a look inside you with this camera.
