Defining “Nothing”
One of the trickiest things to define is “nothing.” Why is
it difficult to define? Because once you try to define “nothing,” it becomes
something. Even if you think of “nothing” as an abstract concept, it still
would not be nothing, as then it would be an abstract concept.
Then how do we define “nothing” if it is impossible to do
so? We can try to define it by saying that we can say nothing about it. At
least that avoids it being concretely related to the word “undefined,” which is
more about not being able to set limits on something or set a meaning to
something. In the case of “nothing,” we simply cannot say anything about it.
Though Oxford dictionaries defines “nothing” as “1. not
anything; no single thing” and “2. something that is not at all important or
interesting” this is still saying something about it (Oxford Learner’s
Dictionaries). But I guess you might as well say “nothing” is something that
cannot be discussed. However, we used the word “something” and now we have come
to another dead end.
In physics, we understand there cannot be truly nothing, as
even in a total vacuum—where there is no gravity, particles, or energy—quantum
fluctuations appear and disappear constantly, (Cain, Fraser). To create a
space where there are no quantum fluctuations requires an enormous amount of
energy, and there would be a remnant of that energy in that space after the
fluctuations have been flushed out, plus an unstable environment (1veritasium).
So even on a physical level, “nothing” cannot be present.
In defining nothing, it is best to keep our mouths shut, as
it cannot be defined by any means. “Nothing,” in fact, does not exist; as if it
did, it would not be nothing. In this perspective, we might say the best
definition of “nothing” is that it is something that is not something, which is
quite a contradiction. We have a word for “nothing,” but that does not
mean there is such a thing as “nothing.”
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น