how does it work?

[claymore]

Is there a scientific principle that explains how the universe operates, does it adhere to a set of rules or is completely random? Bit heavy I know........but facinating.

[NiceCupOfTea]

the 'Guide.....' by Douglas Adams should not explain it all. If that fails, 'In search of Schrodinger's cat' by Gribbin shouldn't do it either.

[mibn2cweus]

I've learned what I know about the universe by investigating the cause and effect relationships between events and objects. It is important to distinguish between how the universe behaves in the absence of human influences to maintain a clear understanding of how the choices of a volitional creature such as ourselves can obsure the underlying nature of reality. Understanding how the universe operates in our absense is crucial to determining how we should act within and relate to it and I believe that the failure to recognise this distinction leads to much confusion regarding the nature of the universe and why we do not always do as we could and should once in possession of the requisite knowledge to make good choices.

[Loosehead]

Well all we have is the theories so far. They are pretty good at explaining the day to day stuff. The extremities of space and time are more of a problem. To answer the question , yes there are the laws of physics but we have by no means discovered all of them, even the ones we have discovered break down in certain curcumstances so really they are still theories all be it well tested ones.

[meredith101]

The universe IS the rules.
Great question.
I don't think we're vollitional beings.

[claymore]

My sentiments exactly Meredith101.I like the way you think

[mibn2cweus]

The choice to believe you have no choice is an interesting choice of what to believe. The laws governing the behavior of the universe can be willfully ignored, nonetheless they still apply. Responsibility for the consequences of our actions as determined by what we choose to believe is not a choice. Acknowledging that responsibility and acting accordingly is a choice which determines whether the universe works to our advantage or we work against ourselves.

The choice is yours. Can you choose wisely?

[Robb Phoenix]

The string theory(superstringtheory.com) is the closest thing to the Grand Unified Theory right now. By theory we must be able to predict everything within the limits of the quantum uncertainity.But whats stopping us?- the calculations. The calcculations are too complicated to be performed even by the most advanced super computers.
But would'nt such an universal theory even determine if we could determine it or not? Uptill now scientists have just been proposing theories one more probable than the other.