"Gravity isn't a force" (and a new view).

 I have long maintained that the Argument from First Cause is satisfied by something more analogous to a force like gravity and electromagnetism. In my ignorance, I thought these forces were solid entities rather than interactions, the warping and curvature of space-time (Gravity), or the result of electromagnetic fields (electromagnetism). 

However, when you are given to false ideas (my view of the first cause being a force, and the theistic view of it being a force with divinity [which it would have to distinctly be unless they want to broaden the definition of God to "anything considered weird through an anthropocentric lens"], let alone a vaguely human one), it would be best to not choose one of the two but discard both. And I shall.

My new explanation is an x-substance that can be called Formation. Credit to the theists, this is also speculative, however, it is not convoluted, and as such doesn't stretch the need for an answer into a free reign "anything goes" view; it simply answers the question of "why do things exist" without inserting extraneous details of motivation and humanization to the conversation, let alone a whole theology of angels vs. demons asserting a moral code.

Now, some might feel that this is too similar to the old view, however, it does remove the faults of the old view, recognizing that the old view relied on a misunderstanding of forces. This new view is better not only because it lacks this misunderstanding, but because it's closer to how forces work. The interaction of gravity is based on spacetime curving and electromagnetism is based on fields. The force tentatively called Formation is the interaction of this x force creating the world. Similar, but still distinct. Same machine, but with a new gear to replace the faulty one.

Speculative? Perhaps. Worse than theism? Only if you have a desire to preserve the Abrahamic religion and think that the mere need to explain something somehow grants you free range to speculate.

Comments

  1. JohnMay 3, 2024 at 3:04 PM

    The only hole here is claiming that a force wouldn't somehow be strong enough to create the world, which ignores that the strong and weak nuclear force have a strength difference, how there's more likely to be some other type of secular object creating the world than something divine, let alone an anthropomorphic deity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JohnMay 3, 2024 at 3:07 PM

      If a force is too weak, then we can switch to some type of matter or energy.

      Delete
    2. JohnMay 3, 2024 at 4:30 PM

      Also, assuming if we have to go with something weird, we can just go with a weird force or energy, or perhaps even logic itself instead of jumping to a deity, since divinity, in order to be anything distinct instead of just something "weird" would always be a separate aspect that would be tacked on needlessly, like human characterstics, moral intent, and other things assigned to a deity.

      Delete
    3. JohnMay 3, 2024 at 10:29 PM

      Think of it as similar to the principle of convergent evolution

      Delete

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