The general hypothesis of the existence of a multiverse (or parallel universes) is something that is interpreted in many different ways in physics, psychology, religion, philosophy, literature, and art. But for this post, I’d like to look at this theory as something that posits the existence of ALL possible universes, and explore the implications of this supposition.
1. If we suppose that ALL possible universes exist, then one of the first things that probably comes to mind is that there are just too many, almost infinitely many, possibilities. Let us first postulate that a universe is composed of discreet units of matter, time, space, and energy (a word I will use to encompass all other “units of existence”). And then let’s try to enumerate all of the different parameters that will define the states of each discreet unit – position, momentum, spin, existence or non existence, etc. When you think of all the possible combinations and permutations of all discreet units, each with a defined state, the possibilities are practically endless. You can also think of possibilities in terms of abstractions like selves, lives, dreams, etc. Many people think of the idea of endless possibilities as something that is wonderful and inspiring but in this case, I think the idea of endless possibilities implies something disheartening. To me, the implication that stands out is that in one parallel universe, everything is the same except that in a faraway galaxy, two particles have switched positions or spins, without having any impact on our life on earth. And there are lots and lots, almost infinitely many, parallel universes where everything about us, our lives, and our experiences are the same. And so all these universes exist in parallel that if, for some reason, one of these universes (ours, or the universe we are conscious of, for example) ceases to exist, it wouldn’t matter the tiniest bit because there exists almost infinitely many “copies” of practically the same universe anyway. Now it is difficult enough to find value, purpose, and meaning in our lives that seems so insignificant in terms of the grander scheme of things (Thanks to my friend Billy for sharing the illustration of us being an extremely small speck of dust in the history of the (our) universe.). And this implication of the theory of the existence of parallel universes further compounds this feeling of despair.
2. Now let us explore another side of this hypothesis of parallel universes. Out of ALL possible universes, a set of infinitely many (I use “infinitely many” to mean extremely many which could be either finite or infinite, depending on whether you assume existence to be in discreet units or in continuous bands or loops) universes would inevitably have physical laws that are different from ours. And there is a set of infinitely many sets of infinitely many universes, all with different sets of physical laws. Thus, in some universes, we (or “selves” or entities which we can assume to be the same as or similar to us) are immortal, or can fly, or can easily teleport, or can be in multiple places at the same time, or have minds with an unlimited capability to comprehend. And in some universes, we are simply a bunch of separate particles or streams of light (or some other types of discreet units or continuous bands or loops), unable to interact and form complex units. So I guess this implication elicits a “limbo” feeling. We might feel frustrated that we do not exist in a universe where we are more powerful but at the same time we might feel fortunate to have existed in a universe where, at the very least, the particular set of physical laws favoured the existence of human life.
3. Let us expand this further and think beyond universes that follow different sets of physical laws. Let us think of the existence of universes that follow different models of existence, different from any conceivable human mathematical or philosophical model, outside the bounds of human understanding.
4. What if instead of the multiple universes existing in parallel, different universes actually intersect at certain points? What if the second law of thermodynamics is actually brought about by the constant, infinitely many, intersections in the multiverse which somehow creates some kind of disturbance in the general balance in each universe? If this is so, is it possible that the second law of thermodynamics is a truly “universal” (for lack of a better word) law, which applies to ALL possible universes? What are the other possible “universal” laws? What if certain human experiences (distinct, special, ordinary, remembered, forgotten, or unperceived) are caused by these intersections among universes? What if euphoria, déjà vu, death, the afterlife, human emotions (love, despair, anger, etc.), memory, and other elements of humanity are caused by this intersections and interactions of universes? And if so, is it possible that a certain version of “the human condition” exists in every possible universe, or is this just conceited humanist thinking?
5. What if instead of infinitely many parallel or intersecting universes existing equally, there is a “master universe” (our universe or the universe we are conscious of, for example) that selects elements, among the infinitely many universes, which get manifested in the “master universe,” which exists in a higher level or degree of existence? What if there are several (or infinitely many) layers in the hierarchy of “master universes” and our universe is the “ultimate master universe” at the top of this hierarchy? What if this “ultimate master universe” is not our universe but the heaven, nirvana, paradise, or the ultimate state of existence described by many religions, and so the journey towards this ultimate state of existence is actually a journey of a series of cross-overs from one layer in the “master universe” hierarchy to the next? What if this “master universe” hierarchy or the “ultimate master universe” itself is the “deity of existence” that chooses what exists or not? What law or model governs this “choice?” What is true existence?
6. What if all of these multiple universes simply exist in the human mind or in human consciousness such that in each human mind lives a unique set of infinitely many universes. (It is impossible to experimentally compare perceptions, like whether one person sees the same color yellow as another. It is possible that the perception-object correspondence simply matched.) What if there is a “master mind” or a “mega mind?”
Writing this blog post has been a very exciting mental exercise for me. As I write this paragraph, I am experiencing some kind of “good headache,” similar to the “tired but invigorated” feeling you have after a good workout.
Let me close by saying that I just love this constant struggle of making sense of the world, our lives, and existence in general. I admire people who have pursued this struggle to the point of “madness,” coming up with theories that are way beyond the capabilities of scientific experimentation. I love how the human mind has reached realms outside the boundaries of human strength and perception. I love how the human mind is capable of acknowledging its own limitations because this recognition creates a frustration that drives the human mind to push itself further.
I guess this struggle for meaning is a self-fulfilling end in itself. It is both the path and the destination. The struggle for meaning is not a quest for the truth, but the struggle itself is the truth.
*The image above is a photo of Moral Faculty, a drawing I worked on while reviewing for the board exams.
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