Highest authority on Mathematical Physics?

[EternityMech]

Anyone have any candidates, and yes i know its a broad term.

[Danton]

I would say myself, but I'm a bit biased :)

But in all seriousness, do you mean someone living or dead? a book?

[Hobin]

We have tribal leaders now?

[Functor97]

Edward Witten?

[Leveret]

The President of Physics, of course. Why else do you think he'd have been elected?

[Ivan92]

The President of Physics, of course. Why else do you think he'd have been elected?
Now now, he has nothing on the God of Physics. xP

[thoughtgaze]

It'd be nice to see some book recommendations.

[collinsmark]

Nature.

[SW VandeCarr]

If you're talking about all time, Isaac Newton (1643-1720). Not only did he create the first field theory, but he invented the calculus to do it. Where would physics be without differential equations? If you're talking about today, I doubt there's a consensus.

[humanino]

It is not fair to say that Newton created the first field theory. The explicit expression of the field concept usually goes to Faraday. For Newton, there was an instantaneous interaction at a distance between bodies. He by the way expressed his dislike about the "instantaneous", but why the instantaneous works so well is a long story.
Aberration and the Speed of Gravity (http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9909087)

"Nature" or "myself" are both good answers, in that the term "authority" is quite inappropriate in mathematical physics. One can only learn mathematical physics by practice.

[jtbell]

This thread triggered a long-dormant memory of a different "higher authority:"

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