English

Enlightenment, Knowledge, Ignorance, Temptation

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2007-05-23 v2 Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

I discuss the historical and conceptual roots of reasoning about the parameters of fundamental physics and cosmology based on selection effects. I argue concretely that such reasoning can and should be combined with arguments based on symmetry and dynamics; it supplements them, but does not replace them.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-ph/0512187,
  title  = {Enlightenment, Knowledge, Ignorance, Temptation},
  author = {Frank Wilczek},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-ph/0512187},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

10 pages, 5 figures. Summary talk at ``Expectations of a Final Theory'', Trinity College, Cambridge, September 2005. v2: date of earlier conference corrected (2003->2001)