A world criterion

Abstract

A criterion is given to distinguish a mass-point from all other mathematically possible singularities. The same criterion shows that during the passage from the Einstein state to another, where all the cosmical matter has broken up into discrete condensations, λ increases from 1/R0/2= to 3/21/R0/2. That we observe most of the cosmical matter as discrete condensations is therefore taken as evidence for a tendency in X to increase in the Einstein state. This is shown mathematically to be equivalent to an initial tendency in the universe to expand. It is thus possible that the genesis of the stellar system was the cause of the expansion of the universe; so that the stellar system of our observation may be evidence enough about the expansion of the universe if the interpretation of the red-shift of the spiral nebulae is controversial.