mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (09/19/84)
My problem with the Webster's definition of Universe is that when someone
invokes it, they lose the right to say that the laws/theories of physics
apply to the entire universe. Too many two-bit attempts to rid the world
of Gods with philosophical deicide try to follow the line of "Since the
Universe obeys the laws of physics, and since God is part of the universe
(by definition, of course) therefore God is subject to physics." This
is completely wrong.
Science can deal only with what is observable through scientific methods.
This does NOT include Gods. I will agree to either of the following
statements:
"The laws of physics apply to the OBSERVABLE universe."
or
"The universe consists of the totality of matter and energy."
BUT trying to force physics onto things which aren't regularly observable,
that I won't accept.
I myself find the second statement more useful. It's very easy to imagine
that there can be existence beyond the obvious kind. Defining away
philosophical (or real) unpleasantries is folly.
C. Wingate