What is the biggest most fundamental question in all of physics?

In summary: Agree, but I was talking about T=0, not <0.I think, as in so many areas, there's a convergence between physics and philosophy. Philosophers in the past have argued that unless there is some uncaused cause external to the universe, then the universe must be causa sui and have persisted through infinite time up to now. The notion of an uncaused event is anathema to physics, as is the notion of belief in some unseen metaphysical entity. Therefore, physics and a philosophical perspective both demand that there is no spontaneous ex nihilo creation. It is contrary to the foundational principles of physics that the universe should have just popped into existence with
  • #36
I agree with most of what you say above, sophiecentaur. Science deals more with "hows" than "whys". But it seems it is in our human nature to first ask the question "why" and then try to explain/model "how", regardless of if "why" has been/can be answered or not (this is no criticism of science from me, it's just an observation of human nature :smile:). And I agree Feynman was great, but he was still just one scientist among others, though. The field question (as jnorman originally formulated it) is a reasonable question IMHO. I see it as related to questions of the nature of vacuum;

"It [the field] occupies space. It contains energy. Its presence eliminates a true vacuum." (Wheeler)

"The fact that the electromagnetic field can possesses momentum and energy makes it very real... a particle makes a field, and a field acts on another particle, and the field has such familiar properties as energy content and momentum, just as particles can have". (Feynman)
 
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  • #37
DennisN said:
"It [the field] occupies space. It contains energy. Its presence eliminates a true vacuum." (Wheeler)

etc...

This is too abbreviated, I think, because any statement which purports to be stating 'reality' should, implicitly or explicitly, be saying something like "The following model of reality, which we call a Field, behaves in the following way. . . ."
It is very handy to use the concept of Fields because it works very well. There need be nothing more than that.
We have almost managed to come to terms with the 'duality' of waves and particles and no one with any sense demands that we should choose one or the other. It is only a matter of time before an 'alternative' to Fields comes up which will explain certain things much better but not other things. (Sounds like String Theory, for instance). There will be a duality in this respect, too - so the Field will be recognised as just one way of looking at things.

I agree that Feynman was just one among others. He clearly had a number of hangups (not helped by his Ginormous EGO) but, on the whole, he was good value, I think. Goddam smart too.
 
  • #38
Sophiecentaur, I agree. And I think the progress of science will be something like you describe, in one way or another. And hey, we still use Newton now and then even though 300+ years have passed, so we'll probably be using fields too for a long time still :smile:. (Btw, the quotes were just examples that even Wheeler/Feynman may have wondered about the reality of fields at some point before; I'm of course not completely certain of how they were reasoning, though :smile:).
 
  • #39
DennisN said:
Sophiecentaur, I agree. And I think the progress of science will be something like you describe, in one way or another. And hey, we still use Newton now and then even though 300+ years have passed, so we'll probably be using fields too for a long time still :smile:. (Btw, the quotes were just examples that even Wheeler/Feynman may have wondered about the reality of fields at some point before; I'm of course not completely certain of how they were reasoning, though :smile:).

Only now and then?
When did you last sort out your car or put up a shelf using Relativity or QM? :rofl:
 
  • #40
:rofl: Good one! (I was thinking of gravitation). But you made a false assumption, leading to a false conclusion. I don't own a car. :biggrin:
 
  • #41
But you do put up shelves?

This Forum's full of false assumptions.
 
  • #42
tarnhelm said:
And in any case, it's not really a question for philosophers because that sort of speculation was the preserve of philosophers centuries ago. Nowadays philosophers tend to be interested in things like logic, language, and the mind. The real heirs of that sort of philosophy are modern theoretical physicists.

In general I tend to agree, though modern developments in philosophy (in those areas you mentioned) have done a good job of examining the "sense" of certain questions. For example, the question of "what was going on in the Universe before stuff started existing?" may be more of a grammatical blunder than a tough nut to crack.
 
  • #43
Yep. For shelves I use common sense, a good hammer and Euclid if I ever would have to.:smile:
 
<h2>1. What is the biggest question in all of physics?</h2><p>The biggest question in all of physics is often considered to be the search for a unified theory that can explain all physical phenomena, from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest structures in the universe. This theory is often referred to as the "Theory of Everything."</p><h2>2. Why is finding a unified theory so important?</h2><p>Finding a unified theory is important because it would provide a complete understanding of the fundamental laws of nature and how they govern the behavior of matter and energy. It would also allow for a deeper understanding of the universe and potentially lead to new technological advancements.</p><h2>3. How close are we to finding a unified theory?</h2><p>While there have been many attempts to find a unified theory, such as string theory and quantum gravity, there is currently no consensus on a single theory that can explain all physical phenomena. However, scientists continue to make progress and advancements in this area of research.</p><h2>4. What are some other big questions in physics?</h2><p>Aside from the search for a unified theory, there are many other big questions in physics, such as the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the origin of the universe, and the possibility of parallel universes. These questions continue to drive scientific research and discovery.</p><h2>5. How can understanding the fundamental laws of physics benefit society?</h2><p>Understanding the fundamental laws of physics can have numerous benefits for society, such as advancements in technology, medicine, and energy production. It can also help us better understand and potentially solve global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development.</p>

1. What is the biggest question in all of physics?

The biggest question in all of physics is often considered to be the search for a unified theory that can explain all physical phenomena, from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest structures in the universe. This theory is often referred to as the "Theory of Everything."

2. Why is finding a unified theory so important?

Finding a unified theory is important because it would provide a complete understanding of the fundamental laws of nature and how they govern the behavior of matter and energy. It would also allow for a deeper understanding of the universe and potentially lead to new technological advancements.

3. How close are we to finding a unified theory?

While there have been many attempts to find a unified theory, such as string theory and quantum gravity, there is currently no consensus on a single theory that can explain all physical phenomena. However, scientists continue to make progress and advancements in this area of research.

4. What are some other big questions in physics?

Aside from the search for a unified theory, there are many other big questions in physics, such as the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the origin of the universe, and the possibility of parallel universes. These questions continue to drive scientific research and discovery.

5. How can understanding the fundamental laws of physics benefit society?

Understanding the fundamental laws of physics can have numerous benefits for society, such as advancements in technology, medicine, and energy production. It can also help us better understand and potentially solve global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development.

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