[ExI] Stephen Hawking's radical final theory

[Jason Resch]

This seems to be the trend in which physics is going. I write about Hawking
and Hertog, as well as other physicists going down this line, here:

https://alwaysasking.com/why-does-anything-exist/#Observation_as_Fundamental

There is already loose empirical confirmation that the laws of physics and
appearance of the universe results from a statistics on possible
observations weighted by the complexity of the computations that generate
them.

This explains why the universe has computable, probabilistic, simple, laws,
the property of time, as well as a beginning in time, why matter is non
cleanable, and why Occam's razor works / why math is "unreasonably
effective" at explaining the natural world.

See: https://alwaysasking.com/why-does-anything-exist/#Confirming_Evidence

For more examples/explanation.

Jason


On Wed, Feb 5, 2025, 7:01 AM BillK via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> Why Stephen Hawking changed his mind about the observer
> 4th February 2025   Thomas Hertog
> <https://iai.tv/home/speakers/thomas-hertog>
> Professor of Cosmology at KU Leuven and Author of On the Origin of Time:
> Stephen Hawking's Final Theory
>
> <https://iai.tv/articles/stephen-hawkings-radical-final-theory-auid-3067>
> Quote:
> *Stephen Hawking, near the end of his life and career, came to believe
> that his early work had been mistaken. In particular, Hawking came to
> believe that science does not provide a "God’s-eye view" of reality.
> Rather, we need to build a theory of the universe from the inside-out, from
> within; reasoning backwards from our place as an observer. The later
> Hawking, along with his collaborator, cosmologist Thomas Hertog, argues for
> a model of the universe not as a machine, but as a self-organising entity,
> in which the laws of physics themselves evolved within and after the
> furnace of the Big Bang.*
> *----------------------*
>
> In the hope that an AI could help to understand this article, I asked for
> an explanation.
> BillK
>
> Phind AI
> Stephen Hawking's final theory, developed in collaboration with Thomas
> Hertog, represents a radical shift in our understanding of the universe and
> its origins. This theory, published shortly before Hawking's death in 2018,
> fundamentally challenges traditional views of cosmology and introduces what
> Hertog calls a "neo-organicist" perspective on the cosmos.
>
> ###  Core Theory Components
>
> 1. **Top-Down Cosmology**  - Reverses traditional bottom-up approaches to
> understanding the universe
>   - Builds theory from the inside-out, starting with our observations
>   - Places human observation at the center of cosmic understanding
>
> 2. **Finite Universe Model**  - Predicts a finite, smooth universe rather
> than an infinite fractal structure
>   - Challenges the conventional theory of eternal inflation
>   - Implies a significant reduction in the multiverse concept
>
> 3. **Self-Organizing Universe**  - Views the universe as an evolving,
> self-organizing entity
>   - Physics laws emerge from cosmic evolution rather than existing prior
> to it
>   - Introduces a Darwinian perspective to physical laws
>
> Traditional approaches start with assumed initial laws and evolve them
> forward to match observations (bottom-up). In contrast, Hawking's final
> theory works backward from our current observations to understand the
> universe's initial state (top-down), effectively putting "humankind back in
> the center [of cosmological theory]".
>
> ###  Scientific Implications
>
> 1. **Testing and Predictions**
>   - Makes the theory more predictive and testable than infinite multiverse
> models
>   - Predicts observable gravitational waves from early universe inflation
>   - Could be verified by future experiments measuring cosmic microwave
> background
>
> 2. **Philosophical Shift**
>   - Challenges traditional views of physical laws as fixed entities
>   - Introduces evolutionary principles to fundamental physics
>   - Replaces machine-like universe concept with organic evolution
>
>
> ###  Broader Impact
>
> 1. **Integration of Physics and Biology**
>   - Places physics and biology on equal footing
>   - Views physical laws as emergent patterns rather than eternal truths
>   - Provides new perspective on cosmic evolution
>
> 2. **Understanding Life's Origins**
>   - Addresses why the universe appears "fine-tuned" for life
>   - Explains delicate balances in particle forces
>   - Provides framework for understanding cosmic hospitability
>
> ###  Future Directions
>
> The theory opens several avenues for future research:
>
> - Testing predictions through gravitational wave detection
> - Further development of holographic cosmology principles
> - Integration with biological evolution concepts
> - Experimental verification through cosmic microwave background
> measurements
>
> This final theory represents Hawking's most mature understanding of the
> cosmos, moving beyond his earlier work described in "A Brief History of
> Time" toward a more integrated view of physics and biology. Its emphasis on
> observation and evolutionary principles offers a fresh perspective on the
> nature of reality itself, challenging traditional views while providing new
> paths for experimental verification.
> -----------------------
>
>
>
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