Can the Cosmos Have a Reason? | Episode 1502 | Closer To Truth

Perhaps we cannot know the reason for the universe, if there is any. But is it even possible for the universe to have a reason? If yes, how would natural regularities and rules compare with some kind of goal or God? Featuring interviews with Alexander Vilenkin, John Polkinghorne, Michael Shermer, Stephen Wolfram, and Stuart Kauffman.

Season 15, Episode 2 - #CloserToTruth

Closer To Truth host Robert Lawrence Kuhn takes viewers on an intriguing global journey into cutting-edge labs, magnificent libraries, hidden gardens, and revered sanctuaries in order to discover state-of-the-art ideas and make them real and relevant.

Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

#Purpose #Cosmos

[grnDestiny]

I know the reason for my dog, he is my pet and makes me happy and better person

[ingenuity]

This channel is an important part of my daily life. Thank you Robert Lawrence Kuhn. ❤

[mdwoods]

We are the result of the universe becoming self-aware. It may very well be an accident, but we create our own reasons for meaning.

[suecondon]

I love this channel. These questions are always in my mind.

[soundway]

Robert, maybe you already have found your own reason or meaning.(or at least a part of it) . And its to create this channel, make those interviews and share with all of us. I really like the way you listen so opposite opinions, of different cultures and religions. For agnostic people like me its a treasure. With every chapter we are probaly a bit closer to the truth.

[richardvannoy]

If there is a creature in the Universe, such as us humans, that can even think of the question posed here perhaps that in itself reveals that the Universe can have a reason.

[LadyFromVulcan]

I love the idea that the reason for the cosmos to exist is to create diversity. :) In my opinion, this would even make more sense in a multiverse - because what could be more diverse? And as other people have pointed out, we, as intelligent beings, are the only way for the cosmos to know itself. To reach this kind of complex minds (through evolution) might also be a part of the "purpose". But I still have to agree with some of the people here (who've already commented on this video) that all this longing for meaning and an answer to the question "why" might be very naive and simply reflect our way of (primitive / subjective) thinking. However, this should not get us to give up. We should try to think about this as objectively as possible though. Always keep an open mind.

[robertgoss]

Your programs are among my two or three YT favorites. I greatly appreciate your intellectual take on the questions we should all be asking ourselves. Mostly, you respect your viewers. We're not all mouth-breathers and dolts. Thanks.

[ArletRod]

"100 years ago, we didn't know that there were other galaxies." Astonishing.

[guitarfreekin]

I like how Michael Shermer trivializes the pursuit of meaning of life and sits there smug and smiling

[alisonchavarria]

The universe isn't as exciting as Star Wars has made it out to be but also not as mysterious and impossible to know as others would like to suggest. We can know a few things, particularly about life in the universe and its scaled comparison to conquest, trade and resource depletion on Earth. Two book recommendations I have are Life in the Universe (Summers) and the Allies of Humanity, starting with book 1.

[infinitemonkey]

I liked Shermer's point that there is no reason except what we choose to ascribe.

[robertjkuklajr]

My beleif is that so all things that can happen will happen in every minute way possible to every conscience being. Once will take eternity!

[williamburts]

Can the cosmos have a reason? I think the answer to that question would be in the understanding of if it serves a purpose, one purpose is that it houses life, another purpose is that it regulates life so it's purpose seems to be centered around life especially with all the fine-tuning that is necessary for life to come about. so you could say life gives it a purpose and that the reason is in the purpose that it serves.

[ardalla]

Interesting to consider that the universe presents itself to us via our senses and their extensions, our scientific devices. If we are --- as it seems --- the only life in the universe, and one day we just disappear for whatever reason, then the universe has no awareness to perceive its own existence. We have this huge amalgamation of mass and energy that exists for no reason at all. It's just there because it's there. It's difficult to consider that the universe really does have no meaning whatsoever.

[nicka.papanikolaou]

Wonderful analysis, thank you Mr. Kuhn! I just want point out that we should not be astonished that the cosmos is comprehensible. We are part and product of this cosmos and as such our faculties are in consonance with the cosmos at all levels. Now, is there a reason? It depends. If we assume that we have free will and that there is purppose in our existence then yes, there is a reason. But more importantly, we should ask if humans are a teleological creature in the sense that we have free will and there is a purposful agency in us, then we must, especially those that accept that ther is no purpose in nature (Monod etc) must answer the question, if the cosmos is under non-purposful forces how did we emerge as a purposeful being? Because chance alone is just a not acceptable explanation, it only hides our ignoance. How then can a purpseless cosmos generate forms of organized matter that can be self-directed and that can have puprose engrained in their activities? This also pertains to the origin of life. How is it possible that non-directed forces generate purposeful, self-directed order?

[TheKaldorr]

Just on Michael's point, if one follows that reasoning then the universe has the same type of reasons than stars and humans; the fact that there is something rather than nothing implies the cosmos's reason or purpose is to exist since that is what it has been doing for trillions of years, the principles clearly defines that there is rather something than nothing. What do you think?

[brydonjesse]

I am bhuddist and i belive the universe thought about a thing and was so interested in it, it thought about it alot. It made more, then it thought about it more and combined the thing. We are its interest, we are it, and we will become one again. Its a cycle that was started and will end, after is the real unknown.

[MVR]

My apologies Professor,
The Very Very Remarkable question you always asks and still asks.. and now still questioning... Professor for all years long..long very long.. Professor Robert you have always had the Truth deep in your mind and soul and always will be that you have GOD.. I know you deep inside you never resist GOD but trying so hard to prove GOD. Thank You Professor.. Mother Mary🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭

[DrumminDoc]

Kuhn himself would agree this is therapeutic for him. When he's asking rebuttals or question after question with each interviewee, it's not for us the viewers. This is purely to *soothe* his own mind. Fascinating to see this played out.