HISTORIAS Manuel Espejo
Multiverse
The nature of our known universe remains shrouded in uncertainty. Philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists have all contemplated the possibility that our universe might be just one of many. Leibniz once posited that a benevolent God could have only created the world we know, deeming it the best of all possible worlds. This assertion, however, has been the subject of satire, most notably in Voltaire's "Candide," as it seems challenging to believe that our world is devoid of room for improvement.
The notion of alternative worlds has long been the cherished dream of mathematicians, philosophers, scientists, and storytellers alike. Countless volumes have been written on this topic. From a scientific perspective, our progress in exploring this issue remains minimal, if not entirely nonexistent. Despite some attempts to detect hints of other worlds within certain physical phenomena, we lack conclusive proof of the existence of universes beyond our own.
From a logical-mathematical standpoint, the possibility of proving the existence of other worlds holds more certainty. Mathematical models incorporating different dimensions can justify the existence of multiple universes, even though these universes have not been scientifically observed. Mathematics, as a logical science, often relies on concepts that defy common intuition, such as complex numbers. For instance, complex numbers are rooted in the use of square roots of negative numbers, which are logically impossible. Yet, these imaginary numbers prove highly valuable for specific mathematical operations.
As it stands, the parallel and alternative worlds mentioned in this article exist solely within the realms of fiction writers and the abstract realm of mathematics. However, what currently appears as fiction might one day become reality if scientists can empirically demonstrate the existence of alternate realities. What form such parallel worlds might take remains uncertain. Fiction writers have conceived various parallel or alternative worlds, some of which seem plausible, yet often anthropomorphized.
Determining the existence or absence of alternative worlds involves grappling with the mathematics of infinity, a concept that challenges our understanding. It can be confounding to fathom that between 0 and 1, there are an infinite number of values, just as there are between 0 and 10,000 or any other numbers. However, this is the mathematical reality. The potential existence of alternate worlds hinges on whether we consider our universe finite or infinite. If our universe is finite, parallel universes may not exist. From a mathematical standpoint, it is impossible to demonstrate the necessity of different worlds in this scenario. Conversely, if our universe is infinite (a fact that remains unknown), the infinite possibilities of infinite universes come into play. In an infinite universe, searching for possibilities of something means that the possibilities of finding it are boundless, effectively making the existence of that thing a mathematical certainty.
This reasoning opens the door to an infinite array of possibilities within an infinite universe where infinite universes are conceivable. In such a scenario, infinite readers like yourself could exist in infinite worlds, sharing the same name, age, and characteristics as the reader perusing this text. What is asserted here as possible isn't necessarily probable or improbable. Instead, it allows us to work with hypotheses that, while not proven true, guide us in the quest for the unknown—a bit like what complex numbers do in the realm of mathematical science.
Consequently, the only certainty we have is that we don't know whether parallel worlds exist or not. While no scientific arguments allow us to deny their existence, we must simply imagine the prospect of additional, alternative worlds. Such a concept could offer explanations for many phenomena currently beyond our comprehension and might align with aspects of various religious beliefs concerning eternal life, heaven, hell, and the nature of the soul. Thus, we are left unable to definitively affirm or deny the existence of worlds beyond our own, acknowledging that our world, though not the best possible according to Leibniz, opens the door to a rich working hypothesis of alternative realities.