Is a new creation the old has gone

What a profound and philosophical question!

The concept you're referring to is often described as the "law of replacement" or "the cycle of creation and destruction." It suggests that whenever something new emerges, it often arises from the ashes of what has come before. In other words, the old gives way to the new, and the new is born from the decay or transformation of the old.

This idea is rooted in various philosophical and spiritual traditions, including:

1. Heraclitus' philosophy: The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus believed that change is the only constant, and that everything is in a state of flux. He famously said, "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."
2. The concept of entropy: In physics, entropy is the measure of disorder or randomness in a system. According to the second law of thermodynamics, entropy always increases over time, meaning that systems tend towards disorder and decay. This can be seen as a manifestation of the law of replacement, where the old order gives way to a new, more disordered state.
3. The cycle of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth: Many spiritual and philosophical traditions recognize a cycle of creation and destruction, where each stage is necessary for the emergence of the next. For example, in Buddhism, the cycle of samsara (birth, death, and rebirth) is seen as a process of growth, decay, and transformation, ultimately leading to enlightenment.
4. The concept of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust": This phrase, often used in funeral rites and eulogies, acknowledges that the physical body returns to the earth, and that the old self is transformed into something new.

In summary, the idea that a new creation arises from the old is a fundamental concept that can be found in various philosophical, spiritual, and scientific contexts. It suggests that change is a natural and necessary process, and that the old gives way to the new in a cycle of creation and destruction.