Thanks for that.
But we’ve strayed quite a bit off topic—we’re not arguing over the definition of quantum energy. Seems a bit odd to get so far into a separate debate.
Let me remind you of our discussion: the law of conservation of energy does not validate itself. Its truth is not self evident. The only way we can know it is true is through empirical investigation.
At question is not whether energy can be created or destroyed. We know it cannot, because this is what observation shows.
What we have is: neither reason nor evidence can confirm that the energy conservation law existed infinitely into the past.
But evidence demonstrates that laws of physics during the Big Bang were very different.
Very close to it. See, nothing exists if it's not composed of energy. All of existence is energy and without it, nothing exists. Energy and it's properties are what allows for a real instance of anything to exist.
"But evidence demonstrates that laws of physics during the Big Bang were very different."
They were not. The laws of physics were the same. I said the appearence of this universe can be seen as a phase transformation of energy. That's a simple model that ignores details such as those of string theory. It's the same kind of calculation that one might do for boiling water w/o considering the details involved in nucleation. Though in either case they can be considered. If you have evidence that the laws of physics were different at any time, then present it.
"What we have is: neither reason nor evidence can confirm that the energy conservation law existed infinitely into the past.
Reason is sufficient. It must be kept in mind that energy can be represented by it's inverse, which is time. Time is a dimension. Space itself is energy. Space permeates the vacuum, which has more energy/cm3 than exists as positive energy in the entire universe. If energy could be created, or destroyed, then it would not be what it is. Do you understand that A, where A is a quantity of energy, must equal A and never not equal to A? The BB is simply a phase transformation of energy. Regardless of scale, or details, phase transformaitons never involve the creation of, or the destruction of energy. An energy transformation must even occur to cause the BB, regardless of any details.