Laws of physics Quote by Carl Sagan
““The laws of nature cannot be randomly reshuffled at the cusps [of an oscillating universe]. If the universe has already gone through many oscillations, many possible laws of gravity would have been so weak that, for any given initial expansion, the universe would not have held together. Once the universe stumbles upon such a gravitational law, it flies apart and has no further opportunity to experience another oscillation and another cusp and another set of laws of nature. Thus we can deduce from the fact that the universe exists either a finite age, or a severe restriction on the kinds of laws of nature permitted in each oscillation. If the laws of physics are not randomly reshuffled at the cusps, there must be a regularity, a set of rules, that determines which laws are permissible and which are not. Such a set of rules would comprise a new physics standing over the existing physics. Our language is impoverished; there seems to be no suitable name for such a new physics. Both 'paraphysics' and 'metaphysics' have been preempted by other rather different and, quite possibly, wholly irrelevant activities. Perhaps 'transphysics' would do.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Cosmos, 1980
The universe’s existence suggests either a limited age or constraints on physical laws during cycles, implying an underlying regularity beyond known physics.
In simple terms: Either the universe is young or laws are limited each cycle.
Consider hidden rules shaping reality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- theoretical research
- philosophical debate
- educational talks
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What constraints might govern physical laws?
- How could we detect such meta‑rules?
Assumes cyclical universe model, which is speculative.