Thread: 100% certain I am at the centre of my universe.

This pretty much stems from the tree falling in the woods riddle and led me to believe I am where I am for sure in the Universe, please allow me to explain...

'If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it will it still make a sound' was put to me a year ago by the father in-law, didn't think much of it at the time but recently it started to play on my mind so much so I was stuck for an answer as its probable the tree will make a sound but then probability doesn't give a solid conclusion.

If a deaf man was stood in the woods at the time of the tree falling he would have solid evidence of it falling but still no concrete proof it made a sound other than a slight vibration through the floor, that is if the tree was big enough or maybe a little wind against his face from the draft it may have cast or perhaps the air around him may of smelt/tasted a little different with the earth and other matter being disturbed. Four out of the five senses helped him to make a bet with odds of 80% in favour of the tree making a sound but there was still a 20% of it not and if I were to strip that man of more senses eventually there would be no tree nor a woods. After getting my head around this simple but tricky concept I changed the question to 'if something happens in space am I there to observe it'.

If I trusted the man with the biggest telescope then I think it is safe to say I could see X amount of miles into space from anywhere into space in relation to the telescopes location allowing me to create a 3D image of what the universe looks like and my position within it. A real 3D map of the universe should show earth slap bang in the centre of what I can observe and yes there could be more of the universe to the left or more of it to the right but that doesn't necessarily mean it has to be there.

So logically I think I am at the centre of my universe given my knowledge of it, can anyone prove theirs is bigger?

This is philosophy, not astronomy.

So logically I think I am at the centre of my universe given my knowledge of it

You're conflating "the universe" with "my universe" and "the observable universe".
The same "conclusion" holds true wherever you are ¹.


1 But not for all observers: I personally am approximately 1.3 km to the left and 400 metres down from the centre of my observable universe, but that's because the centre has a nasty draught that runs right through it.

logical existentialism
..............
but
is it rational?

You can never really know anything. Either go crazy or accept rational thought.

The deaf man with the tree- vibrations are very strong evidence of sound.
If you consider yourself uncertain at that point, then you can never be certain about anything at all.

So logically I think I am at the centre of my universe given my knowledge of it, can anyone prove theirs is bigger?

Nope, you've got the largest universe because mine shrinks with age!

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Nope, you've got the largest universe because mine shrinks with age!

Hate to bust your bathtime bubbles, baby- but that's not the Universe that's shrinkin' with age. (Although it may have seemed like it when in your youth and your psyche was located a meter lower than it is today).

If a tree falls on a science crank while nobody else is there...does anybody on scienceforum care that they're gone?

Originally Posted by shlunka

If a tree falls on a science crank while nobody else is there...does anybody on scienceforum care that they're gone?

I suppose a questionnaire could circulate the forum and an over all opinion could be formed but atm all you are is keyboard typo and I can't really prove you exist, you may just be a clever program running away, do I take you seriously?

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

I suppose a questionnaire could circulate the forum and an over all opinion could be formed

It wouldn't matter.
Opinion isn't science. Nor philosophy.

Originally Posted by Neverfly

You can never really know anything. Either go crazy or accept rational thought.

The deaf man with the tree- vibrations are very strong evidence of sound.
If you consider yourself uncertain at that point, then you can never be certain about anything at all.

Yes the vibrations are testament that something has moved.

I'm not certain about women, sussed mother out ages ago!

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

I suppose a questionnaire could circulate the forum and an over all opinion could be formed

It wouldn't matter.
Opinion isn't science. Nor philosophy.

Indeed, is it possible to have this post moved?

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

Originally Posted by shlunka

If a tree falls on a science crank while nobody else is there...does anybody on scienceforum care that they're gone?

I suppose a questionnaire could circulate the forum and an over all opinion could be formed but atm all you are is keyboard typo and I can't really prove you exist, you may just be a clever program running away, do I take you seriously?

That's really a dreary philosophy there, I just gave you the typed equivalent of being punched in the face, and you're questioning if I even exist? I really should take it easy on you, after all, without the individuals like yourself "not saying you're a bad person, just not scientifically educated" I would have no one to text slap.

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

Indeed, is it possible to have this post moved?

Along with the entire thread, I hope.
It's neither astronomy nor, unless there's some actual point to be made, philosophy.

Yes, I realise I said it was philosophy in my first reply, but I was expecting a follow-up to take it away from the stunningly obvious tautological "definition".

So where might you suggest it gets moved to, without stating the obvious please.

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

So where might you suggest it gets moved to, without stating the obvious please.

Well, since I don't know what you consider to be the "obvious" reply I'll just say that it starts with "T" and rhymes with "rash".

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by andythomasthekey

So where might you suggest it gets moved to, without stating the obvious please.

Well, since I don't know what you consider to be the "obvious" reply I'll just say that it starts with "T" and rhymes with "rash".

OH OH OH !!!!! Mus-Tache!

Originally Posted by shlunka

OH OH OH !!!!! Mus-Tache!

Silly Shlunka!
STARTS with "T".
The mustache.

Fair enough.

Actually, we are all at the centre of the universe, because everywhere is the centre of the universe...as it expands.

Of course, that above statement is taken on my loose understanding of the big bang, so feel free to text slap me if I’m wrong