Why can Nature can be modeled with only the 1st and 2nd derivatives?

[morenopo2012]

It´s not a technical question, is about why the classic mechanics and even quantum mechanics equations are first or second order? ¿Exist any model with up order derivates?

 

[Ray Vickson]

It´s not a technical question, is about why the classic mechanics and even quantum mechanics equations are first or second order? ¿Exist any model with up order derivates?

See
https://www.quora.com/Why-dont-differential-equations-of-physics-go-beyond-the-second-order
for some useful results/discussions.

 

[haruspex]

See
https://www.quora.com/Why-dont-differential-equations-of-physics-go-beyond-the-second-order
for some useful results/discussions.

If the statements there about stability are correct (pity there are no examples given) then we can apply the anthropic principle to argue that an intelligent life form is only likely to arise in a universe with second order physical laws.