How can we sure that physical laws are always the same in al

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether physical laws are consistent throughout the universe. Participants explore the implications of this assumption, its basis in scientific reasoning, and the limitations of observational evidence.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that the constancy of physical laws is an assumption that has proven useful but is not guaranteed, suggesting that it could be falsified in the future.
  • Others emphasize that science operates on the principle of falsification, indicating that while the assumption has held true, it is not beyond challenge.
  • One participant notes that the observable universe is limited by the speed of light, allowing for the possibility that physical laws could change beyond our observational reach.
  • Another point raised is that Newton's laws and other established laws are currently valid within the observable universe, but their derivation from quantum laws remains uncertain.
  • A participant mentions that the consistency of atomic spectra from distant sources suggests that the same physical laws apply universally, raising the question of whether all laws are similarly consistent.
  • It is noted that while theories can be proposed about distant regions of the universe, they cannot be tested against evidence, leaving room for uncertainty.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the certainty of physical laws being the same throughout the universe. Some acknowledge the assumption's utility while others highlight its potential limitations.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the limitations of current observational capabilities and the implications of theories that cannot be empirically tested, which may affect the validity of claims regarding the universality of physical laws.

Garrulo
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How can we sure that physical laws are always the same in all the universe?
 
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Garrulo said:
How can we sure that physical laws are always the same in all the universe?
We can't be!
Its just an assumption which has shown to be a good assumption till now and we'll continue to use it till its revealed that its in fact not a good assumption.
 
We can never be sure of anything in science. The scientific principle is based on falsification and finding a good description of what we can observe. As Shyan said, it is an assumption that has been working very well so far and it could have been falsified several times over if it was not correct.
 
Any information cannot travel faster than light ,so our universe is what we can observe.There is always scope for a possibility of a physical law to change. Newton's laws,Laws of electromagnetism and other laws are holding in this SCENERIO of the observable Universe.
There are other types of laws like Thermodynamics laws which are there holding and there so far is nothing contrary to these.
 
It is expected that Newton's laws should be derived out of subtle quantum laws(not sure about exactness of this statement).
General relativity is more General theory of gravitation.
Special relativity reduces to Newtonian concepts at low speeds.
 
Garrulo said:
How can we sure that physical laws are always the same in all the universe?
One very strong indication is that we can look at the light from very distant sources and the spectra (apart from the red shift) are identical to the spectra of local light sources. That implies that the same 'laws' about what goes on inside atoms, must apply out there. So if those laws apply, why not all the laws?
 
To generalize on what Sophiecentaur said, we can say that we have not seen any evidence of different laws. We can make theories about what lies far out there, but we can't test those theories against evidence.
 

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