Constants of nature, scientific revolutions, and simplicity
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Published:2021-09-23
Issue:3
Volume:34
Page:372-384
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ISSN:0836-1398
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Container-title:Physics Essays
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language:en
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Short-container-title:phys essays
Author:
Unzicker Alexander
Abstract
Since Isaac Newton, many physicists have conveyed the idea of the true laws of nature being governed by “simplicity,” a notion that has rarely been properly defined. When analyzing the history of fundamental physics until 1930, the number of constants of nature appears to
be a useful measure for the complexity of theories, as opposed to the notion of simplicity. It can be observed that paradigm-shifting progress is often related to explanations of physical constants, thereby reducing their total number. Thus, it is argued that scientific revolutions are usually
characterized by a pattern consisting of (1) a conceptual idea, (2) a mathematical formalism, and (3) a reduction of the number of independent constants of nature. This leads to a better understanding of the long-term impact of physical theories and may help to evaluate the current state of
fundamental physics.
Publisher
Physics Essays Publication
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy