Is there anything 'outside' of the Universe?

Question

The universe as we know it is infinite. Yet we also know that it is expanding. If the universe is actually expanding, what is it expanding into?

What (if anything) is outside our known universe that it is expanding into, or is this precieved expansion just an optical illusion and the universe is finite?

Answer 1

The universe is defined to include everything we know.

Answer 2

>>Is there anything 'outside' of the Universe?<<

Yes.

>>If the universe is actually expanding, what is it expanding into?<<

Potential.

>>What (if anything) is outside our known universe that it is expanding into, or is this percieved expansion just an optical illusion and the universe is finite?<<

That which is outside our known universe is too, part of our universe. Think of it as a bag inside a vacuum cleaner. When the vacuum is on, the bag expands in all directions as that which was outside, goes in. To someone near the center of the bag's inside space, in all directions an expansion is seen as moving away from them (an optical illusion). To an outside observer, however, the person inside is moving too. Now outside the bag and the body of the vacuum cleaner is the area you are questioning the existence and the nomenclature of. Just remove the boundaries of the bag and vacuum cleaner body and at that precise moment there is the inside person's perceived universe as well as the unperceived universe not yet expanded into -- hence, Potential.

Potential exists as both infinite and finite simultaneously. It all depends upon the observer. Think of it as a healthy newborn's potential to learn. As time goes by, its brain grows not only physically, but mentally, intuitively, and intellectually. We know at some point the child will grow old and die, and that at that point learning will end (finite). We also know that while alive, there is no limit to what the child can learn (infinite).

Answer 3

It is impossible for me to even imagine the idea, since our current knowledge of the universe is so little.

There have been assumptions made that our universe IS finite. That it is actually spherical in size and just stops.

Many theories could be made about this point of ending all points.

Maybe time stops there.

Maybe everything is mirrored into a next universe where everything is backwards and opposite, since our universe seems to keep a balance. For a good, there is bad. For a positive, a negative. For a light, a dark.

Something like an "anti-universe". But, what would an anti-universe be filled with, since our universe is filled with energy? A universe filled with anti-energy surrounding our own. Can you imagine it?

Pardon my crazy brain storming.

I really liked this question.

: )

Answer 4

Heh, tough question.

If you research the theory of 'multiverse' that'll blow your mind.

:D

Answer 5

There is nothing (ie. infinite space) outside the universe.

Answer 6

infinite can expand and contract and it will still be infinite because of its very nature.

the nature of the universe is infinite, so, even though it can expand and contract, it will still be everything, because of its nature.

Answer 7

It is a human tendency to think that space must be expanding "into" something. We assume there is something to fill up because that is how our physical laws are structured; however, this is not the case. The universe is not filling a larger container but IS the container. Imagine space as one of those sponges that grows when wet. It is not taking on the shape of the area around it, but rather growing by its own rate and quality.

Also, we do not understand the infinite nature of space nor the end or central point. Therefore, our universe is not "known" but rather undiscovered.

Answer 8

I've heard this explains in terms of the Universe expanding into itself. The eastern view is that one forth of everything is the manifest universe and 3/4ths is the unmanifest universe... so taken both manifest and unmanifest together, it is expanding into itself.

Answer 9

Good question..... I don't think anyone has a definite scientific answer for this.

However, philosophy is not limited by scientific facts, known or unknown. This question thus rightfully belongs here.

Philosophically speaking, if it is expanding, then indeed it ought to be finite, for the infinite can not be measured and what can not be measured can not be said or found to be expanding. If it is finite and expanding, then obviously there is something outside into which it is expanding. But then universe is defined as inclusive of everything. So that is the mystery your question brings out into the open.

One possibility is that space is infinite as well as indeterminate in size..... in other words, the universe is merely a pocket in the infinite space and is acquiring more and more space as it is expanding.

Another possibility of course is that the universe is not expanding....... while a part known to us is expanding, there could be another part which may be correspondingly contracting.... in other words, the universe remains of the same size, but keeps changing its shape.

A third possibility is that space is being created continuously and the universe is expanding all the time to fill it up. Of course that leads to the key question of how can space be created out of nothing or void......

....... although it is all beyond our understanding, do we know and understand enough to rule out these possibilities? More questions than answers!!

Answer 10

The universe as defined is everything that exists.   So NO.   Anything outside the KNOWN universe would just be the UNKNOWN universe.

Now Einstein & his buddys think Space-Time is expanding.  

I think that's a crock.  I don't think the void can be bent, folded or mutilated in any maner.  I suspect the universe is made tiny packets of Energy-Space-Time adrift in an infinite void.

Of course 'in' isn't quite correct since the void is nothing, so there is nothing to be 'in'.  

The EST packets can bend & twist each other.  They have time & space with respect to each other.

You might say they are expanding INTO the void,  but again that misconstrus, because the void is truely nothing.   So you don't expand into it, because there is no it.  You only have bits of EST growing further apart with respect to each other.

Answer 11

whenever I think about these types of questions, I go very far away. I go into a frame of mind that makes me feel extremely small and insignificant.

The universe is expanding into itself. It's make it's own room.

Answer 12

no ther not [e-mail]