The Notion Of A Finite And Closed Universe Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Davies & Gribbin (1992: 168, 169n):

The [cosmological] expansion rate, however, is inexorably slowing, and the burning question is whether it will eventually slow to a halt, and turn into a contraction. The issue is closely related to the geometry of space: if space is finite and closed, then the equations of general relativity predict that the Universe will collapse. It is impossible for us to tell by direct observation whether that is indeed the actual state of affairs, ¹

¹ Impossible in practice, that is; in principle, superbly accurate observations, the equivalent in three dimensions of drawing triangles on the surface of the Earth and measuring the sum of the angles, could measure the curvature of space and determine whether the Universe is open or closed.

 

Blogger Comments:

(To be clear, this was written before it was found that the Universe will continue to expand.)

From the perspective of the General Theory of Relativity, viewed through Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, the curvature of space is actually the curvature of a geodesic trajectory through space that is relatively contracted in the presence of matter. The notion of a finite and closed universe thus describes a universe with curved geodesic trajectories at its greatest spatial extent.

This is borne out by the analogy of the curvature of the surface of the Earth, since the curvature is the geodesic trajectory of a body moving through space on that surface.