Big Bang and the Evolving Universe: Meaning and Value

World View of the Big Bang

The World View of the Big Bang breaks with the static idea of the universe and embraces the idea that it is continually evolving. It provides a starting point for the universe (the Big Bang) and a potential end point (Grand Pasgón). The expansion caused by the Big Bang generated new material, resulting in chemical elements and their clusters.

The Term "Sense"

Sense, purpose, or direction: From this point of view, human actions make sense when pursuing a purpose and are appropriate for it. The question of environmental concerns arises if they are appropriate means to the desired end. The term "meaning" is intended to assert that the universe has an ultimate goal, that the universe has a "why."

Sense makes sense as meaning what anything means. From this viewpoint, the term "sense" refers to language and the language of signs. But not only do words and signs mean something, but also things or events. Thus, the world becomes for us a great book full of signs and senses. Symbols are a type of sign that refers to another meaning that is partly shown and partly hidden.

Sense makes sense as a value. From this point of view, life or the world are meaningless if the efforts and sufferings of life do not have any compensation, either in life itself or in the hereafter (death). The meaning of the term refers to the problem of justifying whether life has meaning or not, and if it does, what does it have?

The Effect: Problem or Mystery?

Problem: A situation where there is something unknown that we must ascertain, and difficulty is involved. Once raised, it has a solution if you apply the right technique, even if complex and not always available.

Mystery: A situation that affects and engages deeply. It is not an obstacle but offers different perspectives and dimensions to existence. It cannot be resolved, so it stays with us throughout life.

Faced with mysteries, different "answers" are fitting, depending on the person and life circumstances. The question of the meaning of existence goes beyond what is problematic and leads to the realm of mystery, since there is no technique to resolve it.

Replies to the Question of the Meaning of Life

• There's no sense: Existence and the world are absurd. We cannot give meaning to life, for even such a question makes no sense - in fact, this position eliminates the question itself. (Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Monod)
• There is an immanent sense: Existence has purpose, meaning, or value, but understanding that death is the absolute limit of humanity. The meaning of life is on the near side of death, on existing. (Ernest Bloch, Enrique Tierno Galván)
• There is a transcendent meaning: The meaning of life goes beyond death. This is the position of religions. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam call it "salvation." Transcendence means that life has meaning in relation to another future life characterized by full and final happiness.

Death is Defined by Relation to Life

Death is usually conceived of as the end of life, the irreversible cessation of vital activities. The conception we have of death depends on the understanding we have of life.

Biological Concept of Life: Life is a complex phenomenon that cannot be covered with a simple definition. Jacques Monod has defined living beings as "objects endowed with a project," that is, equipped with teleonomy. But also, living beings are characterized by their ability to build or develop themselves, without intervention by external actors (autonomous morphogenesis). Another characteristic of living beings is their ability to transmit unchanged the information they possess (reproductive invariance).