“The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's definition of "Universe":The Universe is a very big thing that contains a great number of planets and a great number of beings. It is Everything. What we live in. All around us. The lot. Not nothing. It is quite difficult to actually define what the Universe means, but fortunately the Guide doesn't worry about that and just gives us some useful information to live in it. Area: The area of the Universe is infinite.Imports: None. This is a by product of infinity; it is impossible to import things into something that has infinite volume because by definition there is no outside to import things from.Exports: None, for similar reasons as imports.Population: None. Although you might see people from time to time, they are most likely products of your imagination. Simple mathematics tells us that the population of the Universe must be zero. Why? Well given that the volume of the universe is infinite there must be an infinite number of worlds. But not all of them are populated; therefore only a finite number are. Any finite number divided by infinity is zero, therefore the average population of the Universe is zero, and so the total population must be zero.Art: None. Because the function of art is to hold a mirror up to nature there can be no art because the Universe is infinite which means there simply isn't a mirror big enough. Sex: None. Although in fact there is quite a lot, given the zero population of the Universe there can in fact be no beings to have sex, and therefore no sex happens in the Universe.”
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Examples of Usage: Definition of "Universe" from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The excerpt from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy offers a humorous and thought-provoking definition of the Universe. Here are some examples showing how this whimsical take can be applied or referenced in different contexts:
1. In a Philosophical Discussion:
When trying to comprehend the vastness of existence, I often recall The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’s approach:
“The Universe is infinite, so its population must actually be zero.”
This paradox beautifully illustrates the limitations of our conventional understanding of scale and probability.
2. In a Science Fiction Writing Prompt:
Inspired by the Guide's description, imagine a Universe where:
- No imports or exports exist since there’s no outside space.
- Population averages zero despite infinite worlds.
How would civilizations adapt to such a bizarre cosmic framework?
3. As a Quip in a Conversation about Infinity:
Friend: “If the Universe is infinite, how can anything really matter?”
You: “Well, according to Douglas Adams, the Universe’s population is zero — which kind of means your small problems make perfect sense within an infinite nothingness!”
4. When Explaining Absurdity in Cosmic Scale:
The Guide’s definition reminds us that sometimes trying to make sense of the Universe using finite logic just leads to amusing contradictions, like the idea that there can be sex in the Universe despite a zero population.
5. In a Presentation on Satire in Science Literature:
Douglas Adams uses humor to challenge scientific and philosophical concepts:
“No imports, no exports, no population — all because the Universe is infinite, and definitions don’t quite apply the way we expect.”
These examples show how the playful, satirical definition of the Universe can enrich conversations about infinity, existence, and the limits of knowledge.
Reflection Questions on Douglas Adams' Definition of the Universe
Douglas Adams presents a humorous and paradoxical view of the Universe that challenges our usual understanding of size, population, and meaning. Consider the following questions to deepen your thinking about these ideas:
- How does the concept of infinity affect the way we understand population and existence in the Universe according to Adams?
- What does the paradox of infinite volume with zero population suggest about the nature of reality and perception?
- Adams claims that art cannot exist in the Universe because there is no mirror big enough to reflect it. How does this statement change your perspective on the relationship between art and reality?
- In what ways does humor enhance or challenge philosophical ideas in this passage?
- How might this playful definition encourage us to think differently about our place in the Universe?
- What assumptions about the Universe and life does Adams question or overturn through his argument?
- Can you identify any real scientific or philosophical concepts that align with or contradict Adams’ ideas? How do they compare?
- How does this passage explore the limits of human understanding and language when describing vast or abstract concepts?
- What implications might this infinite yet “empty” Universe have for concepts like meaning, purpose, or connection?
- If the population of the Universe is essentially zero, what does this say about the role of imagination and perception in creating “beings” or “life”?
Reflecting on these questions may reveal new insights into how we perceive the Universe and ourselves within it.
Similar quotes
“POPULATION: None. It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.”
“It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.”
“In an infinite Universe anything can happen.”
“The Universe, the whole infinite Universe. The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely small.”
“I went to Cambridge University. I took a number of baths - and a degree in English. I worried a lot about girls and what had happened to my bike. Later I became I writer and worked on a lot of things that were almost incredibly successful but in fact just failed to see the light of day. Other writers will know what I mean.”
“Numbers written on restaurant bills within the confines of restaurants do not follow the same mathematical laws as numbers written on any other pieces of paper in any other parts of the Universe. This single fact took the scientific world by storm.”