[Robert]

As stated in the heading, this forum is dedicated to researchers, students or people who are curious about the Theory of Everything. Let's try and relate all topics and discussions in some way to the Theory of Everything. Of course, since the Theory of Everything covers a wide area, there will be some degree of latitude given here for topics that appear to stray from the topic.

Be sure and keep the tone friendly and respectful. Harsh language will not be tolerated and should not be necessary. We are building a community of persons on a common quest with a unifying goal. We are part of this community to help each other understand what is real and to base it on scientific principles.

Please keep in mind that what we are seeking is the truth, what is real, the true meaning of reality. The successful unification of the four fundamental forces is one thing. But we must also discuss the Theory of Everything in its wider sense. What does it all mean. We must have the courage to be objective and to go where the evidence leads us. Our minds can limit our understanding of reality due to poor thought patterns, limiting beliefs, biological influences, or any number of reasons. We must strive to overcome these to discover what is real.

Also, please don't start a topic with the sole purpose of advertising your web site. Your web site is welcome in the Review Forum. If you break this rule I will move your post to the Review Forum and notify you via email. If you reference a web site as part of your post, that's fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to see that I can participate in this forum just by being curious. When you say "We must have the courage to be objective and to go where the evidence leads us", I'm curious if this includes the possibility that there is no true meaning of reality? Could meaning, purpose and order simply be conceptual tools for meeting human needs, and have no objective existance?[/quote]

[W. M.]

How would we, as a group, define the term "everything"? For instance, everything could mean everything from the level IV multiverse down to the hyperactive drop of hot mocha in my coffee cup, or it could simply mean the overall structure/evolution of all the universes in the multiverse structure or, on a more limited scope, everything in just this universe since it is the only universe that we have observed to date.

Also, would an eventual TOE allow for a certain amount of evolution or redefinition over time? For instance, suppose a TOE is found today, but then tomorrow something is observed that cannot be explained within our current TOE. Would we be willing or able to re-work our TOE, even if it meant starting from scratch?

We must avoid falling into what I call the Hawking Trap. Stephen Hawking is an absolutey brilliant man, and he has doe a great deal for the TOE community. However, he has claimed over the years that "In twenty year's time, we will have a GUT (Grand Unified Theory)". But when twenty years came and went, he again made that prognostication. With that he also espoused that we would know the mind of God. Lately, though, he has begun to re-think that last statement, and I wonder if, as time goes by and new scientific observations are brought to light, we will be re-thinking what we are discussing now.

Perhaps, our TOE Quest is parallel to attempting to reach C (light speed) in a space ship, in that, according to classical physics, the fastest any physical object in our universe can go is a very infintisimal decimal point less than C, never quite reaching 100%C (I call that reaching for 9's, as in 0.9999999...C, or trying to get as close as possible to C).

One final thing: If we do actually discover TOE, how will we be able to prove, undeniably, that "That's it!"?

[?]

[quote="W. M."]How would we, as a group, define the term "everything"? quote]

I see a TOE as a guide for evaluating, understanding and integrating anything humans can imagine. It would be a theory of theories, and more descriptive than prescriptive. If it is specific it will not stand the test of time. If it is disprovable it is not a TOE. If it is not useful it will have a short life.

Concerning Hawking et. al. I have found no correlation between intelligence and emotional maturity. Is God relative? What does the concept of God say about humans? Why do we tend to crave certainty?