12. Eternal Origins

A core cluster of questions in metaphysics revolves around 'Eternal Origins'. What can we say, exactly, is eternal? What is the catalyst that started the universe itself? Can something exist before the universe? If so, where is it and what could it possibly be?

This question has mystified equally philosophers, religious scholars, and scientific academics alike. Even from these disparate angles of thought. No one really seems to have an answer. That hasn’t stopped all three of them from trying. But none have actually succeeded. As Birnbaum puts it,

‘The “Big Bang” theory postulates the origin of the universe in a tiny point of incredible mass. However, science does not go beyond this point. It does not address what existed before the “Big Bang.” Current research in physics leads scientists into searches for smaller and smaller subatomic particles. Refiners of the Big Bang theory postulate that at one point the total matter and energy in the universe fit into one very small point. ’

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So, science essentially fails. It traces things back. As far back as we conceivably can, then follow scientific principles to reason even further back from that point.

There’s only one issue. Nothing in the entirety of the Big Bang Theory shows any proof whatsoever that the initial “pinpoint of matter” is in any way eternal. I’d also have to note (if we’re being sticklers about it), “eternal things” don’t blow up and start universes. Part of the definition of eternal is indestructible. If you tell me something is eternal and I ask to see it and your answer is “it blew up”, I will laugh at you.

So, science can never quite reach the real answer of eternal origins.

If you’re thinking at this point those philosophers and religious scholars get it any better, you’d be wrong. It may seem to win the argument when you bring it the subject of God. After all, isn’t God eternal? While this statement may or not be true, Birnbaum is quick to point out the flaw inherent in this argument as it relates to solving eternal origins,

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“Those who postulate a creation at the hands of an inexplicably eternal God merely shift the origin question to another plane. Whereas before the origins of the universe were unfathomable, now the origins of the Creator of the universe, the Divine, are unfathomable. ”

The problem is that religion circumvents the whole eternal issue neatly by not having it blow up at the universe’s creation. However, it still fails to prove the one question: What is eternal? To be fair, religious scholars will say God is eternal.

The problem inherent here is that cosmology is science and metaphysics is science. Faith, while nice, is wholly inadequate in science. What is needed is proof. So, like science, religion fails to prove anything with an eternal origin. Succinctly, Birnbaum confesses that, for once, religious scholars and scientists face the same problem,

“It is interesting to note that the problem faced by science regarding the initial origins of the universe, and the problem faced by religion regarding the initial origins of the universe, are strikingly parallel.”

In fact, no one and nothing has proven an eternal origin except Birnbaum himself. In Birnbaum’s Theory of Potentialism, the issue of an eternal origin is not skirted or asked to take on in 263

faith but met directly head on with irrefutable proof. As we’ve previously discussed, Potential itself is the only thing we can truly say has eternal origins.

The proof itself can be taught to a 5th grader it is so simple. Consider the following two statements:

Number one is what we call in philosophy an axiom. It is an irreducible statement of fact that is inherently accepted as true. A famous one of these is “I think, therefore I am”. You exist. That has to be taken as a matter of fact. You know you e4xist because you couldn’t be thinking about whether you exist unless you already did. So, the axiom is proven by the merit of its own irreducible common sense.

Likewise, number one is true because we know something can’t exist unless it could exist.

Further, number two states that if it does successfully manage to exist, whatever something that exists (and in fact all somethings that ever have existed) must have always had to Potential to exist.

Just like number one, this is an axiom of pure reason and common sense. Both of these statements are simply true, and 264

no one is going to argue differently and sound sane. Given that both statements are fact, Birnbaum realized there was nothing deeper to fathom or further to go on a hunt for that elusive eternal origin, as it had been staring us in the face for thousands of years right theree4 under our collective noses.

The only provable thing that is truly eternal is Potential itself. Even religious scholars would have to concede that God himself could not exist without the Potential for him to exist. So, we’ve no further to look Potential.

An eternal origin has with it a litany of questions that have sought answers since the ancient Greeks. So, as an exercise and proof, let’s apply Birnbaum’s solution to the most important of those questions as proof and see if Potential is justified as the final solution.

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