Cosmology vs. Cosmogony

Kabbalistic Cosmogony and Modern Cosmology: Oh G-d, Not Another Talk On Science and Religion

Disclaimer I: All the Religious Content of This Talk is From a Typical Orthodox Jewish Perspective.

Disclaimer II: This is Not a Pop Science and Religion Talk. This is a rather intellectual presentation and for that I appologise.

I'm not mixing, nor is it advisable to attempt to mix, concepts of various religious traditions in an attempt to view G-d in some holistic way that all religious traditions could adopt.

Retort I: There is no need, nor has there ever been a need to re-evaluated G-d's role in the universe.

To think that G-d gets further away each time we re-evaluate the size and scope of the observable universe show a fundamental misrepresentation of the definition of G-d.

Retort II: The Universe is Not Infinite in Space, Nor its the Universe Timeless and Uncreated.

At least from a Jewish Perspective (and I'd venture to guess Christian, Muslim, Hindi, Buddhist, and many more), there was a moment of creation and, thus, the universe has a finite age and is dynamic.

Next OUTLINE

Review of Modern Cosmology

Greek Philosophy - As It Relates To Cosmogony

Jewish Midrash - An introduction to the mind of a Torah Scholar

Kabbalism - An introduction and contrast with Greek Philosophy

Kabbalistic Cosmogony -- And Its contribution to modern cosmology

NextModern Cosmology

Goal: To understand the physics of the universe both now, in the future, and earlier.

To understand the universe and all the interactions therein as a single TOE (Theory of Everything) that combines all the interactions in Nature into a single, unified interaction.

We have sought a single TOE for the universe in the guise of a

Grand Unified Field Theory(s) or GUTS.

NextThe Problem

Problem: Because of our current state of the universe (low energy density) and our limited human perspective, we see an incredible complex and seemingly unrelated host of interactions.

THE INTERACTIONS

Interaction	Examples
Electric	Lightning, Static Cling, Hold elections and nuclei together to form atoms.
Magnetic	Magnets, Magnetic Moment of atoms & nuclei, NMR.
Gravitational	Force between any two masses: Holds planets in orbits, Your weight, Form Megascopic & Gigascopic structures in the universe.
Strong Nuclear	Holds P's an N's together to form atomic nuclei.
Weak Nuclear	Vaguely, holds quarks, etc., together to form P's and N's, etc.
The Fifth Force?	LRRI - long range repulsive interaction pushes matter in universe apart.

NextAccomplishments of A Modern Cosmology

Netwon's (et. al.) deterministic description of mechanics (cause and effect).
Maxwell's description of light as an electro-magnetic wave (1854-8).
Riemann's description of electro-magnetism as oscillations in 4-D (1856).

The above's 'unification' of the Electric and Magnetic Interactions.

Boltzman's description of black body radiation (?). br> Einstien's description of curved space-time (1905).

The Unification of Gravity and the Electro-Magnetic Interaction- Its contribution to modern cosmology.

Hubble's Law (1920s) - The universe is expanding
Big Bang Theory - There was a moment of creation in which the energy density was very high and the interactions were unified -- physics was simple!

Development of Quantum Mechanics (1900-1958) the probabilistic description of the interactions. (One cause, many possible effects)
Development of high-energy particle accelerators (1930-present) to probe high energy density regime (like that of the early universe)

NextAccomplishments of A Modern Cosmology

Development of the Standard Model - A sea of particles interacting in complex ways. Some particles are 'matter' some are carriers or 'projections' of the forces.

Attempt at making a Mendeleev-like Table of the Particles:

Elementary Fermion Particle Messenger (Boson) Particle Building Block Of

All Particles Graviton Carries gravitational interaction between all particles. Six spin states. Macroscopic Objects, e.g., people, stars, galaxies.

Electron

Positron

Proton Photon Carries EM interaction between any EM charged particle. Two spin states. Atomic Nucleus

Neutron

Quarks (12 kinds) Gluons (six kinds) Carries strong nuclear force between particles with colour charge. Holds quarks together to from protons, neutrons, etc.

Leptons

Complicated! W+, W-, Z Carry weak nuclear force between some, but not all, particles. These are very massive! W's have EM charge! Vaguely, holds quarks together.

NextAccomplishments of A Modern Cosmology

Development of Superstring Theory - A new 12-D theory combines Riemann's multi-dimensional concept of unified interactions and quantum mechanics (probabilism).

3 or 4 of these dimensions are perceivable to humans.

Perhaps the 3 (or 4) dimensions are expanding -> expansion of the universe we see

Expansion of some dimensions separate the simplicity of the unified field.

The others are hidden dimensions (at least to us anyhow).

The aspects of the many particles of the Standard Model are projections of the higher dimensions onto the 3 (or 4) we know.

High energy particle accelerators allow us to see the folds in the higher dimensional space that show up as the particles of the Standard Model.

NextGreek Philosophy and Teleology

Teleology -- Natural phenomena are determined not only by mechanical means, but by an overall design or purpose (OED).

No Revealed Facts -- No Torah or other scriptures.

Logic and assumed 'facts' (opinions) used to deduce structure and form.

Aristotle's G-d -- The goal towards which everything moves rather than the Creator of All. (Rabinvitch)

A's Cosmogny is based on Teleology -- G-d is not the cause of event, but the Final Cause. G-d is not the creator of matter & form. Matter and form Eternal

Physis -- The form if each thing & the totality of all forms (holistic). It is eternal, immutable, uncreated, rational.

To know the Final Cause is to understand nature & how it works.

NextGreek Science - Determinism

Aristotle says knowing the causes us sufficient for knowing (& predicting) the effects.

In Natural products the sequence is invariable (if there is no impediment) (3)
The proper object of unqualified sci. knowledge if something which cannot be other than it is. (4)

Cause & Effect - Determinism -- Under the same conditions, an experiment will always yield the same results. (Contrasting the QM scale! E.g., Radioactivity)

Apparently, all waters flow to the sea because they have a natural tendencies to do so.

This natural tendency is due the Final Cause, that all the waters will find their way to the sea.

A's teleology says "seeing that everything nature makes is a means to an end -- the Final Cause

The Prime Mover is Nature, the final event is the assemblage of G-d.

NextGreek Cosmogony

Astronomy -- Ptolemy was able to find mathematical formulae allowing the prediction of eclipse. These formulae

The truth of this is attested by the correctness
of the calculations -- always made on the basis of [epicycles & eccentricity]
concerning the eclipses and the exact determination
of their times as well as well as of the moment when it begins to get dark, and of the
length of the time of the darkness. (12)

Yet P. was unable to deduce the true shape of the heavenly spheres (planetary orbits).

NextGreek Cosmogony

A picture was proposed:

Four sub-lunar elements (fire, water, air, earth) or Forms comprise all matter.

The reason for the sun's motions for the fact that the Forms have
not settled immobile in their natural places. - A.

The same reason is given for the growth and decay of human beings and other living things.

The sun, moon, planets, and stars are affixed to crystal nested spheres.

The four Forms influence the motion of the spheres, but the matter (the sphere's contents) affect the Forms.

Clearly, the sun influences the sub-lunar element, fire... (RAMBAM)

Were these really seen literally?

NextJewish Midrash

A method of investigation. Originally applied to interpretation of Torah & Jewish literature.

Muslim Patrons and Kabbalistic efforts broaden usage of Midrash.

Logic of Philosophical Discourse turns a series of facts into a proposition, which comprises a new fact or 'truth'.
Example: [1] I kicked a cat. It rained. [2] I kicked a cat, then it rained. [3] If I kick a cat, it will rain.

The four logics employed in Midrash

Logic	Example
Syllogical	A = B and B = C, therefor A = C.
(Meta)Proposotional -- generalization from (related?) facts.	Dogs chew bones, Spike is a dog, therefor Spike chews bones. (with many more related facts)
Teleological Narrative - linking of facts that appeal to teleology (specific to culture or religion).	Telling of tale with moral - Parabolic, Aesop's Fables
Non-Propositional of Fixed Association - Collection of unrelated idea without conclusion.	Thought or spirituality invocation.

NextMidrash Logic & Scientific Logic

Midrash bases its arguments on these logics, with respect for historical arguments, and embraces parallel thought and conclusions.

Opinions, if well argued, are 'truths'. . . . . . . . . . . . Conflicting 'truths' are likely.

Knowability - Crumbling the wall of ego

Regarding all that is in the heavens, man grasps nothing
but a small measure of what is mathematical (RAMBAM)
Probabilism replaces cause & effect -- The Guide to the Perplexed (GTP)

The laws of nature are a function of time, in the sense that the state of the universe
at any particular time depends on its earlier states.
However, says Maimonides, it is an error to
" draw an inference from the nature of a thing that has achieved actually
it its nature when it was only in potentia" (GTP).

Consequently, "we declare against him [Aristotle] that this nature,
after it has achieved stability and perfection does not resemble in anything of
the state it was in while in the state of being generated, and that it was brought into
existence from absolute non-existence." (GTP) (Rabinivitch)

A singularity brought forth by from singularity?

NextContrast of Greek and Jewish Views of the 'World'

Kabbalism	Greek
Some things undefinable	All things definable
Some things unobservable	All things deducible
Some things unknowable	All things (potentially) knowable
Hidden parts of universe	Logic reveals all
Probabilistic - all things likely, just some are more so	Deterministic
As are interpretations, scientific theories are revisable	Once logically argued, no revisions are needed (or accepted)
Time of creation, universe has an age	All is immutable and uncreated

NextThe New Scientific Logic

From the application of Midrashic interpretation of nature (as was fashionable to the Greeks), a new natural philosophy emerged:

Mainmonides' argued, Factual reality cannot be logically derived.
The real world is apprehended empirically.
Only an act of Divine Will which gave
the reality the form that it has.
The Creator chosen to make it otherwise. (Rabinovitch)

Furthermore, It is only by empirical observation
that we can obtain a description of the world, and moreover, that
description of only a partial one. (Rabinovitch)

For it is impossible for us to accede to the points starting from the which
conclusions may be drawn about the heavens;
for the latter are too... high in place
and rank. (RAMBAM)

"The GTP deserved careful reading" Leibniz

NextKabbalism

Sefer Yitzirah and Zohar 1000-1100 C.E. (Beginnings in 700s? Or Earlier?)

Known to exist and referenced by Isaac the Blind (1160-1236) -- Divine Mystery

Uses Midrash and Gematria

Gematria - A cryptographical system, by which words are assigned numbers based on the letters (numbers) that the words contain (and their order in the word).

Gematria Examples:

The 613 commandments are referred to as TaRYG since: Tov (Ta) = 400 + Resh (R) + 200 + Yod (Y) = 10 + Gimmel (G) = 3, equaling 613.

"I have sojourned (GaRTY) with Laban" (B 32:5), as Rashi (1040-1105) interprets, as
"Even though I sojourned with the evil Laban, I observed the 613 commandments"
Garty - 3 + 200 + 400 + 10 = 613.

No fewer than nine Gematira systems used by Kabbalists.

(Also Notarikon & Temurah - shorthand substitution and letter/word exchange)

NextGematria in Beresheet: The Sefer Yitzirah

With the thirty-two paths of Wisdom (1:1 Y.S.)

Letters and digits are the basic building blocks of creation, quality, and quantity (Kuzari)

The qualities of anything in creation can be expressed by numbers.

Numbers cannot be defined until there existed some element of plurality in creation.

The Creator is absolutely simple, containing no plurality whatsoever............Plurality begets the definition of numbers.

Ten Sefirot - 32 Paths

Ten Sefirot - ten times appears "Elohim says"
32 paths - 32 times does the name Elohim appear

32 paths of creation identified in Beresheet*. 32 = numeric value of Beit-Lammed. Divine encoding of the Alef-Biet (22 letters + 10 numbers). With 10 emanations.

32 = 2⁵. Therefor there are 5 dimensions, each with two ends. .....Big bang described with uncanny accuracy by Kabbalists.

NextKabbalism on The Age of the Universe

Seven Doubles: BGD KPRT
With them were engraved
Seven Universes, seven firmaments
seven lands, seven seas,
seven rivers, seven deserts,
seven days, seven sabbatical,
seven jubilees and the Holy Place...

The days...universes refer to compounded time periods. (They call 'creation' what we call 'universe.)

According to some, this is the 2nd, the 6th, or the 7th creation (universe)

Midrash (R. Iscaas of Acco) says that when counting the cycles

one must not use an ordinary physical year,
but rather, a divine year. (Otzar Chaim, Trans. (86b))
Based on
A thousand years in Your sight are as but yesterday (Psalm 90:4)

According to this, each cycle (above) is 2.56 Billion years (BY)

If this is the seventh cycle of the second universe, the age of the universe is 15.3 BY old (compare to 15-16 BY by modern scientific methods).

Note that at then end of the sixth cycle corresponds to the fifth day of creation. This is 3.6 BY ago (compare with scientific data).

NextTorah on Evolution

The current Hebrew year is 5761. Carefully counting the genealogies (~974) since Adam, we find 5761 year passed. Supported in Talmud & other Midrash.

Kabbalists say that there were human-like beings before Adam.

G-d didn't create the earth or its life. G-d created the Bohu (building blocks) for the ..Earth to bring forth... Every 2.5 BY Earth years G-d twiddles with the universe, but the laws of nature are fixed for all time as

..he has established them forever; He has made a decree
which shall not be transgressed (Psalm 148)

and

whatever G-d decrees shall be forever; nothing shall be
added to it, and nothing shall be taken away (Ecc. 3:14)

Nefesh (life breath) versus Neshamah (G-d's image given to Adam). Adam is not the primordial human being, only the first to be 'made in G-d's image'. Writing? Logic? Consciousness?

Schroeder's 'proof'

NextSummary

Jewish Philosopher's radical criticism of Greek science paved the way for a new science. Non-immutable, created universe "re-introduced".

Jewish Midrash introduced empirical-ism, probability, building upon work of others, and revisionary requirements of theories to Mid-Evil Natural Philosophy.

Kabbalistic Ideas introduced higher and hidden dimensions.

Kabbalistic cosmogony has frightening resemblance to modern cosmology.

There's no conflict between science and Jewish religion.

Elementary Fermion Particle	Messenger (Boson) Particle	Building Block Of

All Particles	Graviton Carries gravitational interaction between all particles. Six spin states.	Macroscopic Objects, e.g., people, stars, galaxies.

Electron
Positron
Proton	Photon Carries EM interaction between any EM charged particle. Two spin states.	Atomic Nucleus
Neutron

Quarks (12 kinds)	Gluons (six kinds) Carries strong nuclear force between particles with colour charge.	Holds quarks together to from protons, neutrons, etc.
Leptons

Complicated!	W+, W-, Z Carry weak nuclear force between some, but not all, particles. These are very massive! W's have EM charge!	Vaguely, holds quarks together.