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Author Topic:   The Theory Of Everything, Or Is It?
Admiral Valdemar
Inactive Junior Member


Message 1 of 6 (96006)
03-30-2004 2:38 PM


I've just had a disagreement with a physics/maths undergrad girl I know who has recently been talking on another forum about a Theory of Everything or ToE.
Now, I had to bring up the possibility that we may never reach this theory given some big names like Hawking have doubted we can reach it (though trying to avoid Gdel's theorum of incompleteness which doesn't seem to apply). We then went on to the results of such a ToE being found and it seemed that this student thought it would basically end science, that is, we'd effectively have one theory that could explain everything from the Big Bang to sexual selection to fluid dynamics and quantum entanglement.
Does this sound right or is this taking it a bit far? I have heard such a theory would certainly help unify quantum and macroscale events and the likes of EM and gravity etc. but I don't see how it could basically explain every single physical phenomena we can see.
I may just not be thinking straight, but then I need to read up again on ToE and see for myself. Anyone agree or disagree with this ToE?

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Darwin Storm, posted 03-30-2004 2:53 PM Admiral Valdemar has replied
 Message 5 by 1.61803, posted 03-30-2004 3:36 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied
 Message 6 by Eggmann, posted 04-02-2004 3:29 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied

  
Darwin Storm
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 6 (96011)
03-30-2004 2:53 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar
03-30-2004 2:38 PM


ToE would hardly be the end of science, if such a theory is possible. Simply look at Einstien's theories of special and general realitivity. While he devised the original theories, the applications and development of the theory to different aspects of physics has been accomplished by numerous scientists since. Consequences of the theory, which Einstien didn't forsee, have been computed and validated. For example, the equations of realitivity were used to predict and describe what we now commonly refer to black holes. I think the title of ToE is probably inapproriate. The approach taken doesn't seem to address all the questions in science, so I think its safe to say that even if a ToE were developed, it wouldn't put physicists out of job.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar, posted 03-30-2004 2:38 PM Admiral Valdemar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Admiral Valdemar, posted 03-30-2004 2:58 PM Darwin Storm has not replied

  
Admiral Valdemar
Inactive Junior Member


Message 3 of 6 (96015)
03-30-2004 2:58 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Darwin Storm
03-30-2004 2:53 PM


Exactly what I thought. But it seems that this girl, who chat to me on AIM about it, could use this one theory to accurately model, say, the human brain or anmy chemical reaction. Now, I could see a mechanical and highly reduced theory maybe linking the fundamental forces etc. which may or may not be useful in practice, but to have one that could not only explain everything in physics which underlies chemistry and therefore biology and then go onto explain the likes of sociology or psychology and so on seems a bit excessive.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Darwin Storm, posted 03-30-2004 2:53 PM Darwin Storm has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by Melchior, posted 03-30-2004 3:15 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied

  
Melchior
Inactive Member


Message 4 of 6 (96022)
03-30-2004 3:15 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Admiral Valdemar
03-30-2004 2:58 PM


Well, that's actually theoretically possible, although it would not be a prefered method.
If you can, at a fundamental level, explain all possible interactions between matter, energy, space-time and forces, you can model the internal relationship of atoms, then use this to model molecules, then chemical processes, then biological processes, and such.
The problem is that you would need to include such an enormous amount of complexity if you want to make a model that takes into account every single particle in your body, all forces acting on it, and all the relationships between exactly everything going on.
It IS possible to do this, in the same way it's possible to model a forum post as the result of a specific set of electrical signals in the elements that makes up a computer, but it is neither easy nor required to do so. It is much easier to model it as words.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Admiral Valdemar, posted 03-30-2004 2:58 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied

  
1.61803
Member (Idle past 1503 days)
Posts: 2928
From: Lone Star State USA
Joined: 02-19-2004


Message 5 of 6 (96028)
03-30-2004 3:36 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar
03-30-2004 2:38 PM


As far as I know The Mother of all Theories, The theory of everything, The Unifying theory...etc... does not exist yet.
And if it did new questions most likley would be asked . How can this new Tof E be applied to reality. It is true if all the questions are answered what good is it to ask, but Science tends to always come up with new questions.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar, posted 03-30-2004 2:38 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied

  
Eggmann
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 6 (97135)
04-02-2004 3:29 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar
03-30-2004 2:38 PM


ToE is Theory of Interaction
If you want to impress your girl friend tell her that you can prove that she is made of atomic size stars and look for the proof here
Page not found - WORLD MYSTERIES
no kidding you can shock your teachers and friends with the theory of
interaction
Cheers

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Admiral Valdemar, posted 03-30-2004 2:38 PM Admiral Valdemar has not replied

  
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