A Rational Cosmology: The Impossibility of Singularities with Infinite Density

Essay LXV

G. Stolyarov II
This is Essay LXV of Mr. Stolyarov's series, "A Rational Cosmology," which seeks to present objective, absolute, rationally grounded views of terms such as universe, matter, volume, space, time, motion, sound, light, forces, fields, and even the higher-order concepts of life, consciousness, and volition. See the index of all the essays in "A Rational Cosmology" here.

It is commonly asserted by some contemporary scientists that singularities and black holes exist which have an infinite density.

Philosophy must urgently employ its veto power over the natural sciences to refute this illogical theory. Density is the ratio of mass per unit volume. An infinite density implies the existence of unlimited mass within a limited volume. Mass is not a chronological attribute, and exists all at the same time. To claim that infinite densities can exist is to acknowledge the existence of simultaneous infinities, which immediately renders one's concept or theory illegitimate.

One must ask the contemporary physicists the following questions: "What properties does a finite volume have to enable it to hold infinite mass without expanding? If a finite volume can hold any quantity of mass, no matter how large it is, does it not follow, then, that each individual unit of mass must occupy zero volume? If one unit of mass has zero volume, and zero multiplied by anything remains zero, then must a singularity, too, not have zero volume? But how can it also be claimed to have a certain finite non-zero volume?"

This is a contradiction that cannot be reconciled. The physicist, if he thinks rationally, will be forced to admit that the singularity does indeed have zero volume, that is, it does not exist.

It is conceivable that an object may have a very high density, exhibiting a very large mass to volume ratio. It is also possible that there exist what are now called black holes and singularities, and that they can explode outward or attract matter into themselves.

But a "singularity" can only release some very large amount of matter in an explosion; it cannot be an inexhaustible fount of matter. A "black hole" cannot be said to have an infinite holding capacity for objects, either. Throughout its existence, it must have attracted some finite quantity of objects into it, which quantity affects its mass. But, if it also has some finite density, any intake of matter must also have amplified its volume in some manner. Even if this matter were to become compacted to an immense extent in the "black hole," it would not be possible to compact this matter infinitely.

This is what philosophy tells us in regard to modern cosmology. It informs us what propositions must be false, but it does not guarantee that even a conceptually feasible notion of black holes and singularities is true. Such proof would be a task for empirical observation to undertake. Philosophy can, however, catch scientists making senseless generalizations and propositions, and inform them whenever they venture into a realm for which the philosophically unsystematic scientist is quite ill-equipped.

Read other parts of "A Rational Cosmology" by clicking here.

Published by G. Stolyarov II

G. Stolyarov II is a science fiction novelist, independent essayist, poet, amateur mathematician, composer, author, and actuary.   View profile

1 Comments

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  • wab10@psu.edu 12/19/2007

    The initial premise of this claim is faulty: infinite density does not imply infinite mass. A very small mass in an infinitely small volume (i.e. a singularity) would also be an infinite density.

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