Universal truths?

Question

Can anyone describe--and give evidence of--any universal truths outside of these four claims:

Time exists.
Space exists.
Energy exists.
Matter exists.

Isn't everything else just a derivative of one or more of these four things? Please, only include what you believe to be universal truth that can be substantiated with empirical evidence or logical reasoning. I'm willing to hear out any long-winded examination.

I'm going to add this to a couple other forums to get some varied responses...i.e., you don't have to answer multiple times.

No, no hidden agenda. Just wondering what other ideas were.

I'm getting the "cogito ergo sum" argument, which I thought about, but since we have no empirical evidence that people can't think without matter or energy, it falls within those. Same with bad things happening, rain falls, etc. All these are derivatives of the others.

Causality is one that I hadn't thought of, but isn't it also derivative (as far human experience is concerned) with the other four?

I'll get back to you on black holes...

Answer 1

Very interesting question. Here's how I (and some others) break it down.

Time doesn't really exist - only the moment does. Time is just a concept. However, the passing of moments seems to be influenced by objects of great density, i.e. planets, black holes, etc. Is there a fourth dimension of "time" that is being affected? This is basically metaphysical, even though science comes into play. At the moment, our understanding of "time" is sorely lacking.

Space... well, what is space? Is it emptiness, in which case it is nothing, or is it matter/energy, in which case it is something? It would fall under another category. This is kind of similar to time. Here's a big problem, though: if space is that in which matter and energy can exist, what do you call what is beyond the edge of our universe? We would have to say, based on our current understanding (I think), that there is simply more space out there.

Now, energy and matter are a little different. Basically, everything is energy, so whether you want to take that so far as to say that matter is merely a subcategory or not is up to you.

But you're talking about universal truths. As others have mentioned, Descartes's conclusion - cogito ergo sum - seems to be the one truth apart from math and parts of logic. Everything may be illusion except "I am," because I have the ability to doubt. This, of course, only applies to the speaker, as he cannot prove the existence of anyone else. Logic somewhat falls under this "universal truth" category, yet doesn't, as logic is a collection of various understandings that may or may not always be true. Let's examine two of its greatest aspects:

Causality (at least one person here mentioned it): This really is understood through our experiences, i.e. observations of repetitive occurrences and the subsequent conclusion that, if a->b now, a->b later under the same conditions. Is this universal? Perhaps, perhaps not. Certainly, it is the best approach we have so far to the universe and it produces the best results.
Identity: A thing is itself, i.e. 2 = 2. If we abandon this principle, chaos ensues. A contradictory "thing" cannot exist. I would like to think this is universal!

Now, I'm no physicist, but I have heard and read a little about quantum physics that really defies logic. At very, very small and very, very large levels, things become "odd." They defy our typical understandings of logic, though I'm not entirely sure how; again, I'm no physicist. It may make a difference in the field of science, but it seems that, apart from the extremes, things in this universe seem to operate within our understanding of "laws." So, while not universal, logic is certainly acceptable. Probability also comes into play here in very strange ways, but it has such little effect where it applies that it isn't worth mentioning. Just be aware that there is a certain current of chaos running under our vision of order.

I strayed from the immediate question, but I think the topic expands by itself. Of the four you listed, it seems that, using a logical approach, only energy and possibly matter exist. To really undo everything, we could use Descartes' argument to get down to "I am," but this doesn't allow for living. We have to take some things by "faith," so to speak, in order to proceed with our existence.

EDIT: Ah, I should try to respond to your additional details.
1.) Cogito ergo sum: This may or may not be dependent on our perception of matter and energy. True, from your approach, it is impossible without these; however, part of Descartes' argument was to undo these ideas, so it still works.
2.) Causality is indeed derived from our experiences as matter and energy in space and time (I should have mentioned this before: matter and energy are simply that which exist within space and "time," so it's still a problem of whether you want to label space and "time" as real things).
3.) Black holes themselves are matter of high density and energy that seem to "bend" space and time. Remember what I said: at the extreme levels, i.e. very small and very big, things get chaotic and mess with our rules.

Answer 2

A Universal Truth, in itself, is a paradox. One can only assume that the only universal truth is that there are none; In our limited scope of the universe, we do not know everything.

We can assume that Time, Space, Energy, and Matter all exist; however, it is impossible to know if they exist everywhere. As Qwid stated, Black holes are an obvious exception. Current theory states that "space" does not exist at the singularity.

Of course, in this matter, our theories of black holes and the like could be completely off base. The hole could easily simply be a "tangible" mass. Think of it like all the non-ejected matter of a super-massive star, condensed into something say, the size of a soccer ball. In that instance, it is a point in space, so that Time and the like do exist there, just in a highly altered form. Space and time flow together, and the current paradigm in physics states that the flow isn't constant in the universe. (Gravity wells around stars, for instance.)

On the other hand, what if a black hole was that- a "hole in space." What is hard to wrap one's mind around is: How can you have a hole in, essentially, a three dimensional volume? It's like you have a cube, and then a hollow spot in the center. In this case, if the "cube" is space, what exactly occupies that hole?

In that case, Space and time would not exist in those spots. Now, I may be using a different definition of a Universal truth, but if said truth is not true for all cases, then it is void. Just as Newton's Laws are not universal truths.

Answer 3

Who is to say that ANY truths are 'Universal",...
... in a sense that such things have been defined within the boundaries of human intellect and reason.

Are you familiar with the varied views on
The Anthropic Principle?
The gist of of these views asserts that man's ability to speculate on the origins and existence of the "Universe" is limited by the scope with which man has developed to view it in;...
...were the scope any different it would not be the scope of man and, consequently, man would not exist.

In other words,... we see things the way they are because we are MAN,...
...and MAN can only see things as MAN can.

Given this thought,
... our numerous disciplines in science and mathematics,...
... our 'advancements' in technology, etc:...

We may arrogantly think that all of those things we claim are 'universal' truths and constants have some 'universal' meaning but, - to any alien being who may happen to wander into Earth,...
... they may mean no more to them than prehistoric scratches on a cave wall.
-

Answer 4

I don't see that most of those are universal truths. While it's useful to believe that space, energy and matter exist, there's no way to prove any of them. If you're willing to get a bit old-school, Descartes' cogito could be seen as proving 'Mind exists' as a universal truth (where you define 'mind' as that thing which thinks).

Answer 5

Sure.

New York is north of Miami.

Rain is condensed water vapor.

The moon orbits the Earth.

Need I go on? There are gajillions of 'em.

Answer 6

Cogito, ergo sum

Answer 7

I sense a hidden agenda ...


I don't know what you're trying to get at, but, none of these things exist in a black hole (as far as we know)

Answer 8

Causality.

Answer 9

Bad things will happen to you.
Good things will happen to you.

Ok, ok, I know in the true Zen sense, bad and good are subjective. But you KNOW what I mean.

Answer 10

Archetypes.
Humanity has expressed them and always will throughout time, is it empirical enough?