Were the laws of physics written by someone?

[_Philo Sofee]

Michio Kaku said
No one knows who wrote the laws of physics or where they come from. Science is based on testable, reproducible evidence, and so far we cannot test the universe before the Big Bang.

From my readings of scientists and astronomers, the feeling is the laws of physics are simply our own human way to describe the regularities of nature as we see them in our observations.

What are some of your thoughts? Must they have been written by someone?

[_moinmoin]

I think this is just his way of expressing the thought (for broad audiences) that we cannot know anything about the laws before the Big Bang. I don't think he's making a theological statement or implying anything here; it's more his engaging and accessible writing style.

According to the eternalist strain within Mormonism, no one would have "written" them. No beginning, and no end. There is no ultimate "first cause."

[_lemuel]

If we're living in a simulation, then within that simulation, the laws of physics could have been written by someone.

[_DoubtingThomas]

From my readings of scientists and astronomers, the feeling is the laws of physics are simply our own human way to describe the regularities of nature as we see them in our observations.

What are some of your thoughts? Must they have been written by someone?

No one knows, but there is no need to believe a God wrote the laws of physics.

[_malkie]

If you're hoping for a confession, I'm not sure that one will be forthcoming.

[_moksha]

We continue to gain a new understanding of the physical laws of existence on an almost daily basis. As to the authorship of these "laws", well, the head honcho was busy populating the planets with a large army of sister-wives. That left the computational work of devising and implementing the Celestial mechanics of the universe to the supreme squadron of TK-Smoothies. They were able to accomplish much when not totally consumed with sexual desire. It simply was not part of the TK-Smoothie's theology.

Hope that helps.

[_honorentheos]

Michio Kaku said
No one knows who wrote the laws of physics or where they come from. Science is based on testable, reproducible evidence, and so far we cannot test the universe before the Big Bang.

From my readings of scientists and astronomers, the feeling is the laws of physics are simply our own human way to describe the regularities of nature as we see them in our observations.

What are some of your thoughts? Must they have been written by someone?

I find the debate behind, "Are mathematics a discovery or invention?" fascinating. The question of if our use of mathematics and science to codify what we observe in the universe and make accurate predictions is also fascinating for similar reasons. I tend to come down on the side of invention rather than discovery.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Well, someone much smarter than myself there's literal binary code written into the fabric of the universe. It's pretty interesting and I recommend you watch the first 4 minutes of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMlUepVgbA

Here's the wiki on Dr. Gates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_James_Gates

This might be the perfect confluence of Franktalkian woo and scientific orthodoxy!

- Doc

[_DrW]

I find the debate behind, "Are mathematics a discovery or invention?" fascinating. The question of if our use of mathematics and science to codify what we observe in the universe and make accurate predictions is also fascinating for similar reasons. I tend to come down on the side of invention rather than discovery.

Honor,

Ten years ago, I would taken the opposite view. However, amazingly complex and convoluted mathematics have been developed over that time to describe string theory. Some of it requires work in coordinate systems of more than 10 dimensions (some claim as high as 26).

This approximate 10 dimensional math has developed to the point where it appears internally consistent and valid as a mathematical construct. Yet, with the failure (so far) of the LHC to find any of the supersymmetry particles predicted by many of the string theory versions, it now seems unlikely that this math actually describes nature, or is in any way an aspect of nature to be "discovered". There are almost certainly other examples of this kind of dead end mathematical invention, but I can't come up with any off the top of my head.

So, I would now agree with your stated view on this issue. New information can lead to new views of the world - often extending to the very fundamentals - even for those of us who may be considered boring, brittle scientistic hardasses by certain apologetically inclined religionists.