Douglas Adams's Theory that no one exists

[Guest Moonraker One]

Being a huge fan of [I]Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy[/I] , and other Douglas Adams books, I think his theory that no one really exists is so true. So technically, you shouldn't be around to read this:

Basically, he said that since the universe is infinite (never-ending), there are an infinite number of worlds out there. But, since not all worlds can be inhabited by living beings, the total average population of the entire universe, is a finite (limited) number. Since any finite number divided by infinity is infinitely close to zero, you can simply say that the total average population of all worlds is zero. Thus, you can also say that any person you meet who claims to exist is merely a figment of your imagination.

What are your feelings on this subject?

[Drix D'Zanth]

I was about to reply to this topic... then it occured to me : this topic has never existed! I guess you would have to first agree with the hypothesis that there are an infinite number of planets.

[Guest ScirosDarkblade]

Space is considered infinite. The universe is NOT. There is a boundary to it as far as we know, and it extends to as far out from the universe's center as to the farthest galaxy from it, more or less. Well, there's dark matter and all that other jazz to worry about, but nobody makes the claim that there's an infinite amount of matter, so the universe is indeed finite. So the premise is false.

I don't know what the heck is meant by "an infinite number of worlds" altogether.

[Solo Tremaine]

[QUOTE=Moonraker One]Basically, he said that since the universe is infinite (never-ending), there are an infinite number of worlds out there. But, since not all worlds can be inhabited by living beings, the total average population of the entire universe, is a finite (limited) number. Since any finite number divided by infinity is infinitely close to zero, you can simply say that the total average population of all worlds is zero. Thus, you can also say that any person you meet who claims to exist is merely a figment of your imagination.

What are your feelings on this subject?[/QUOTE][color=#503f86]This looks like it's supposed to be [i]population density[/i] of the universe, not the question of whether people exist inside it or not. Since the universe is so huge in comparison to everything inside it, you could say that from an outsider's point of view, there's nothing inside it. But the fact that you and everyone else are here to read and write in this thread proves otherwise.

But how are you supposed to measure population density when the majority of space is uninhabitable anyway? You can only live on the surface of something, so a better estimate would be to take the number of things in the universe and then divide it by the area of all the places in the universe where they live.

It's humour. Practically, stating that no-one exists is pointless, because you're there to make that assumption in the first place. It's told from a first person perspective: "Thus, you can also say that any person you meet who claims to exist is merely a figment of your imagination." It's giving you a 'scientific' hypothesis to base ignoring people on. But if everyone else is doing exactly the same thing, it doesn't work. You can't prove that something doesn't exist just by saying so.[/color]

[Dagger]

I second everything Solo said. Just as nearly all of the other scientific stuff included in his books is there for the purpose of contributing to the madcap comedy, I strongly doubt Mr. Adams meant for this "theory" to be taken seriously.

~Dagger~

[Xander Harris]

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]I second everything Solo said. Just as nearly all of the other scientific stuff included in his books is there for the purpose of contributing to the madcap comedy, I strongly doubt Mr. Adams meant for this "theory" to be taken seriously.

~Dagger~[/QUOTE]
Yeah. Those are comedy books. Most of his philosophical stuff is there for the sole purpose of mocking philosophers (the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, anyone?)

However, the theory that no one else but yourself exists is a lot older than Douglas Adams. The basic idea is that you know some things automatically, such as a square circle does not exist. However, there are other things you learn with your senses. If your senses are lying to you, then it is possible that other people do not exist.

[DeathBug]

Fourty-two.

[Sol-Blade]

[SIZE=-3]Well, even if you were to consider it a legitimate theory...we practically know nothing about what is out there. The Universe could go on for light years and light years...or it could only as far as the eye can see. Who can say? We definitely won't know in this generation at least.

Sure, we can fantasize and dream about it. But we honestly won't be making any big steps in the coming years. I mean, by far, if terraforming were to be come real and used to inhabit the other planets and satellites in our Solar System...that would still be decades if not centuries away. What we [I]do[/I] know is that there [I]is[/I] other [b]places[/b] to inhabit out there. Whether or not they already have been inhabited, well now that's just up to your imagination.[/SIZE]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]Thats the population average. The population average is virtually zero. But, the population on a specific planet [i.e Earth] would be greater than that. Don't you know anything about maths?

Then again, what would I know. I'm not even real.[/size]

[Manic Webb]

[quote name='DeathBug']Fourty-two.[/quote]
Great. Now if we could just build a planet-sized computer to figure out what the heck that question was...

[Delta]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]
Ah, but if we say that 40% of the possible infinite worlds are habitable, does that not also mean that there are an infinite number of them? And while we're at it, infinite habitable worlds mean that the universe's total population approaches infinity.

Right. Given:
[indent]1) an infinite population;
2) an infinite number of habitable worlds;
3) the fact that we have yet to find an equation describing the population of each habitable world in the universe; and
4) the limit of the quotient of functions approaching infinity does not exist until proven by some mathematical rule like L'Hopital's[/indent]
we can conclude that no one exists.

Again, the theory came from the guy who said that the calculation room of the universe's most wonderful ship resembles a restaurant. I love it.

Love and Peace!

[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

As Solo pointed out Adam's theories were not based on true equations although certain parts of his theories may hold merit. I'm fairly sure Adam's has not fully explored our universe so completely that he could create such an equation, after all who's to say that Earth just doesn't belong to a particularly "rural" Solar System ?

I also second Manic's comment.[/SIZE]

[Drix D'Zanth]

I mean, if we are talking about physics that are totally hypothetical... then they might as well be along the same line as Philosophy. And if philosophy has proven one thing, it has proven that I exist. Not "you" .. but the "I" exists.

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]When you average things out, especially with such broad differences [i.e. a population of zero, or four billion] then the results will go astray. But, if you are going to average things out, you need to accept that these other people actually exist, don't you? Thats why this philosophy [based on your post] is completely irrelevant. As would be plainly obvious using a pass from Grade 5 maths. Also, as has been mentioned, if there are infinite planets, it doesn't matter that only some can support life, because it has to be an infinite number. You can't have a portion of infinity.

And as has also been said, this guy was an entertainer. Thats obvious by how fast we can pull apart this 'Theory'. The guy was joking.[/size]