Is it possible to have objective laws of physics?

Daniel Oriti (see this) concludes that there are no objective laws of physics. 40 years ago, the views were very different but the dramatic failure of the superstring approach together with the multiverse catastrophe changed the optimistic opinions. It is of course psychologically much easier to conclude that there are no objective laws than to admit that my generation failed to find them.

The answer to the question depends on what one means with objective reality. If space-time is taken as objective reality, there is no such thing as objective reality, something existing independent of observer. In the TGD framework, one can speak only of space-time surfaces in H=M⁴×CP₂ as analogs of Bohr orbits for particles as 3-surfaces, and obeying almost deterministic holography forcing the Bohr orbits to be basic dynamical objects. Zero energy ontology (ZEO) is the new ontology solving the basic paradox of quantum measurement theory. Quantum states are quantum superpositions of these “Bohr orbits”.

There are global objective laws: they reduce the mathematical existence of TGD. H isn fixed by existence of the twistor lift and number theory-geometry duality (M⁸-H duality) and holography= holomorphy principle giving holomorphic 4-surfaces, as minimal surfaces, and as extremals of any general coordinate invariant action constructible in terms of the induced geometry. Action makes itself visible only at singularities. Induction fixes the dynamics for fermions: second quantized free spinor fields in H. Fermion pair creation is possible thanks to the 4-D spacetime allowing exotic smooth structures as defects of standard one. The point-like defects define vertices and are also identifiable as (self-) intersections of space-time surfaces. Dimensions D=4 and D=8 for space-time and H are crucial for non-trivial physics.

Space-time surfaces are expressible as roots for pairs(f₁,f₂) of analytic functions of 4 generalized complex coordinates of H (one is hypercomplex coordinate with light-like coordinate curves). They form an algebra induced by the arithmetic operators for f_i. This algebra decomposes to a union of number fields with f₂ fixed. Space-times are thus generalized numbers: this realizes geometric Langlands correspondence (see this and this) .

The space of space-time surfaces defining a number system, the world of classical worlds (WCW) and it exists objectively. Subjective existence means sequence of quantum jumps between states defined by WCW spinor fields, this means hopping around in WCW. ZEO allows a realization of conscious memory so that the system learns all the subjective time about physics (see this).

For a summary of earlier postings see Latest progress in TGD.

For the lists of articles (most of them published in journals founded by Huping Hu) and books about TGD see this.