[arthur]

Hi,
I have been interested in the idea of the being a single universal law or a t.o.e. for a long time and since the advent of PC's have been keeping an eye out in the expectation that it might be eventually discovered. I wonder if many or even if anyone might have considered the personal ramifications of understanding such a law. A law which if understood would give the understanding of the 'why' of everything, including all of your thoughts, deeds, actions and feelings. A law which would allow you to understand your emotions, psyche and would explain consciousness and the nature of your thinking and knowledge and faith. A Law that would explain choice and might lead one to longer be dependent upon spontaneity of life which we are all dependent upon. In short, could such a Universal Law be a Pandora's box, Could the finding and understanding of this supposed Holy Grail result in complete disenchantment with life?

...arthur.

[MJA]

Yes.

=
MJA

[bottomlander]

Originally Posted by arthur ...... being a single universal law or a t.o.e. ...... ...... the personal ramifications ...... A law which if understood would give the understanding of the 'why' of everything, including all of your thoughts, deeds, actions and feelings. A law which would allow you to understand your emotions, psyche and would explain consciousness and the nature of your thinking and knowledge and faith. ...arthur.

In my humble opinion, TOE is an arena theory that takes serial steps to explain those valid and typical happenings.
Firstly about the Nature (physical world), then, prepare a nice platform for other humanistic studies/theories.

Actually, your mentioned examples like thoughts, deeds, .... can be studied and somewhat partly theorized ahead of any substantial TOE.

Personal choices/ramifications need not be decided or foretold by a TOE!


Best Regards. Bottomlander

[Profpat]

Could the finding and understanding of this supposed Holy Grail result in complete disenchantment with life?

NO!

Best to all,

Pat

[arthur]

TOE is an arena theory that takes serial steps to explain those valid and typical happenings.
Firstly about the Nature (physical world), then, prepare a nice platform for other humanistic studies/theories.

Actually, your mentioned examples like thoughts, deeds, .... can be studied and somewhat partly theorized ahead of any substantial TOE.

Personal choices/ramifications need not be decided or foretold by a TOE!


Hi Bottomlander
In another post I suggested that I might be thick,perhaps I am, for I do not understand your post. I do not know what an 'arena theory' is. I don't know which 'valid and typical happenings' you refer to, although I have,I think, maybe, gleaned an idea about the platform.

The stuff which you say can be studied and somewhat partly theorized ahead of any substantial TOE would surely only join all of the other mass of stuff which can and is being studied and somewhat partly theorized ahead of any substantial TOE?

(Personal choices/ramifications need not be decided or foretold by a TOE!)

again; Surely, if the TOE was shewn to be 'The' Universal Law and it was understood, why and how any choices were made could be explained and any ramifications resulting from the choice would only be speculation until they occurred.

Finally, ( I do feel a little embarrassed asking you to explain in easy English what I feel every one else understands) But I do not understand- (Firstly about the Nature (physical world),) I understand that this might be a bit of a chore but I would be grateful if you would explain your post in simple lay terms for me....in anticipation, thanks...

arthur.

[bottomlander]

Originally Posted by arthur ......what an 'arena theory' is? arthur.

I read the term "arena theory" in a book about Superstring and Theory-of-Everything.
I think it is something like an "umbrella theory" or a "nice collection of theories".

I agreed that TOE is an "arena theory" simply because of the following reasons:
1) As in p.139 of Multiple Views of Participatory Design by Henry Sanoff
http://jfa.arch.metu.edu.tr/archive/..._2/131_143.pdf , "On the grounds of equal participation and the development of consensus, Connolly (1969) coined ‘the arena theory’, ......This theory advocates the exchange of expert and experiential knowledge. The assumption of the arena theory is that there is at least one agreeable outcome to which all parties come to a consensus. However, there must be a willingness of groups to accommodate one another."
(consensus is somewhat similar to peer review or monitor thru moderators)

2) TOE cannot be a single idea or a short theory.
It is better to be supported by a group of theories (with established partial truths) while TOE points out the direction, the framework, etc.
TOE then behaves as a platform to absorb those nice preTOE theories and to build future theories.

Best Regards. Bottomlander