Why the fundamental laws of nature is the way it is?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the nature of fundamental laws of the universe and their apparent arbitrariness. Participants explore why these laws are consistent and complex enough to support self-reflective observers, questioning the existence of alternative universes with different laws. The anthropic principle is referenced as a potential explanation for the observed regularities in our universe. Ultimately, the conversation concludes that the current laws are simply the way they are, with no definitive answers provided.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the anthropic principle
  • Familiarity with scientific methods and experimental data collection
  • Basic knowledge of fundamental physics concepts
  • Awareness of philosophical implications of scientific laws
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the anthropic principle and its implications in cosmology
  • Explore the relationship between fundamental laws and the existence of life
  • Investigate alternative theories of universe formation and their laws
  • Study the philosophical debates surrounding the nature of scientific laws
USEFUL FOR

Philosophers, physicists, cosmologists, and anyone interested in the fundamental nature of reality and the laws governing the universe.

PhysicsMonk
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The world seems to me to be rather arbitrary. I don 't know if people feel the way I do.

Scientists apply for government grants to gather data, and conduct experiments. Some scientists look at the data, and write down equations. If those equations are sufficiently fundamental, then some people called them fundamental laws of nature. Later on, more people do experiments, look at equations, and attempt to write down a set of( or one) equations that is suppose to express even more fundamental deep regularities. The question I wonder about is "why?". Why these regularities? Why don 't we live say live in a universe with a completely different set of fundamental laws? I can 't imagine self-reflective observers can live in a universe with a logically contradictory set of laws, but why now a universe with a set of non-contradictory set of laws? The laws cannot be too simple, because there might not be any life. So, why don 't we live in a universe with a set of consistent laws, and complex enough set of laws that are able to produce self-reflective thinkers?
 
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There is no answer to this. It's just the way it is.
 
You seem to answer your own question. A universe with different rules would be not only strange, but quite unstable.
 
My favorite answer is "because it follows from the principle underpinning the laws."
 

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