Thursday, April 19, 2007

Introducing Frank Tipler and Omega Theory

Frank Tipler is a cosmologist whose theories differ from most other cosmologists. He argues that in the turn of the next century, human beings will have developed advanced robots that spread themselves out amongst the universe. Each generation after this will reproduce a better version of themselves which will ultimately cover the galaxy over a period of millions of years and outlive the human race. The robots will then develop and transform into an advanced complex form of life whose intelligence exceeds far beyond any one's imagination.
At this particular time, the universe will fold inward in what Tipler calls "the big crunch". Our universe is proposed by theory to be open. Tipler simply refutes this theory and suggests that the universe is closed. He asserts that when the universe does collapse, the advanced life forms that exist at that time must make sure the collapse of the universe is controlled in order to insure future existence. So how exactly can the collapse of the universe be controlled? Tipler believes that this answer is hidden in the equations of relativity. He asserts that general relativity is chaotic. Since the Butterfly effect is similar to this, he maintains that this theory will control the collapse of the universe.
When the universe is carefully destroyed then the higher life forms that controlled the collapse will reach a state which is called "the Omega Point". The Omega Point is closely attributed to God. Thus these beings will be the ultimate form the knowledge, power and love. At this stage in Omega point, the Resurrection of all human beings who have ever lived will occur. This will be done with a higher form of computer simulation which Tipler calls emulation.
The Omega point is defined by our DNA and this will "emulate all possible humans that have ever lived". The Omega choices who has what kind of life. So a once poor human, is now rich, an evil mass murderer is now a priest and so on..Those who are not so deserving will be placed in a series of purgatories.
So one might ask is Omega Point possible? No one will ever know and who's to say what will happen millions of years from now. The idea of using computers and robots to continue human survival has been imagined and heavily debated.
Tiper believes that each human is defined by our DNA and the Omega Point simply emulates all possible humans that could ever live. Our memories have long dissolved into entropy but Omega Point has us relive our lives in an instant, along with all the other possible lives we could have lived. Those that the Omega-God deems deserving will get to live even better lives, including lots of sex with the most desirable partners we can imagine! Tipler some how places this on a mathematical basis, computing the relative"psychological impact" of meeting the most beautiful women whose existence is logically possible compared to simply the most beautiful woman in the world. He finds this to be [log1010^1,000,000]/[log1010^9] =100,000.
Scientists and Cosmologists have imagined and debated over the possibility of computers and robots as a mean for extending human survival. What Tipler asserts in theory however is full of holes and left open for a whole lot of criticism. One example would be Tiplers big crunch theory which today's cosmologists say is highly unlikely. Here are three other weak points in Tiplers theories:
1. He assumes space and time are continuous and not discrete. Many physicists believe that space and time are discrete.
2. He also assumes that intelligent life will somehow be able to survive a universe with an average temperature of trillions of degrees. How can something survive a condition like this?? Tipler is not very clear.
3. He mentions that as the universe collapses right before the Omega Point and unlimited energy will become available; but Tipler ignores the unlimited amount of heat and density. So how does he explain the existence of structures in a universe hundreds of millions of times smaller than an atom?

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