TFNR - Simplicity, elegance and naturalness
Although appreciable qualities, simplicity, elegance and naturalness cannot constitute the sole foundation of scientific research. Even if they represent important aesthetic aspirations, they cannot serve as absolute methodological principles—nor as exceptions to the scientific method. They must not become imperatives to be pursued at all costs and attained under penalty of exclusion of developing theories. In summary, they are good qualities, which may nonetheless pose potential obstacles to the advancement of science.
When we move towards the most elementary levels of Reality, to its deeper levels, its correct to try to achieve simplicity, elegance and naturalness. Complexity is the result of evolution, of interaction, of the combination of multiple elementary elements, events. It is reasonable to think that the fundamental principles of Nature must be simple and in limited number (syntactic simplicity or elegance), the same for the fundamental entities at the base of the Formation of Reality (ontological simplicity or parsimony), and more, that complexity should emerge through evolution, by the infinite combinations of a few elementary bricks. But, we don't have to presume the the best theories must be the simplest, most elegant, most "natural".
When we move toward the most elementary levels of Reality—its deeper layers—it is appropriate to seek simplicity, elegance and naturalness. Complexity arises from evolution, interaction, and the combination of multiple elementary components and events. It is reasonable to assume that the fundamental principles of Nature must be simple and limited in number (syntactic simplicity or elegance); likewise for the fundamental entities underlying the Formation of Reality (ontological simplicity or parsimony). Furthermore, complexity should emerge through evolution—via the infinite combinations of a few elementary building blocks. However, we must not presume that the best theories are necessarily the simplest, most elegant, or most "natural".
A brief note on naturalness... We have many ideas about what should be considered natural. One of the most radical (and limiting in the current state of physical research) is the modern conception of atomism: that everything is / must be made of particles. In this system of knowledge, the Evolutionary Knowledge, we hypothesize that everything is made of Events (Action) produced by the (inner) interactions between Forces and Fields (that compose the Sources) organized in/by Information, in Structures (waves and particles, and their more complex interactions) and Forms (the objects that form the Universe). We have to abandon the atomistic idea that these bricks are particles, pieces of matter. We have to go further, looking at the forces and the fields, those forces and fields that we think are always connected to the existence and the dynamics of particles. We must go even further beyond those (derived) forces and fields, to reach the fundamental level, the Elementary Action, the Elementary Events, produced by the Fundamental Force and the Elementary Field and their dynamics created by their inner interaction in the Primary Source.
A brief note on naturalness... We hold many ideas about what should be considered natural. One of the most radical—and limiting in the current state of physical research—is the modern conception of atomism: the belief that everything is, or must be, composed of particles. Within this framework of knowledge—Evolutionary Knowledge—we hypothesize that everything is composed of Events (Action) generated by the (inner) interactions between Forces and Fields (which constitute the Sources), organized through Information, into Structures (waves and particles, and their more complex interactions) and Forms (the objects that constitute the Universe). We must abandon the atomistic notion that these building blocks are particles, mere fragments of matter. We must go further—examining the Forces and Fields themselves, those Forces and Fields traditionally linked to the existence and dynamics of particles. We must go even further beyond those (derived) Forces and Fields, to reach the fundamental level: the Elementary Action, the Elementary Events, generated by the Fundamental Force and the Elementary Field, and their dynamics arising from their inner interaction within the Primary Source.
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