A través de Marginal Revolution llego a un fascinante intercambio sobre la infinitud del universo. Soy un completo lego en esta materia pero el intercambio rememora viejas discusiones que había escuchado en las míticas "reunions de savis" con mi tío y sus amigos (a ellos va dedicado el post).
Pregunta:
If the universe goes on in all possible directions, and in an infinite distance, then wouldn't that mean that there would have to be more planets out there (another universe?) If you have an infinite amount of space, then wouldn't there absolutely HAVE to be another universe out there (perhaps an infinite number of them?) And if there are an infinite number of universes, then that would mean that EVENTUALLY there would be another milky way galaxy, and everything that has happened here in 'our' galaxy, would happen the exact same in that galaxy. Also, there would be an infinite number of us, doing an infinite number of things. For example, in other worlds I have won the Nobel Peace Prize, the word 'fish' is a curse word, George Bush is a serial killer.
Respuesta:
If there is a finite probability of something happening (ie. a planet forming around a star, or a galaxy forming), then in an infinite universe there will be an infinite number of that thing. So there would be an infinite number of galaxies and planets in an infinite universe. If however there is an infinitesimal probability of something happening, then in an infinite universe there would only be a finite number (for example 1) of those things. I would argue that the probability of creating a specific person with a specific genetic make-up and way of thinking may only be infinitesimal (it depends on how complex you think humans are) - therefore there is only one of you! People also use this argument against the idea that there must be ET life out there in such a big universe - if the probability of life forming is infinitesimal then there could only be one life bearing planet. I personally think that it's more likely that life forms with a finite probability than it is that a specific person forms.
