Why is the notion of naturalness so important?
For our purposes here, the reason the notion of naturalness is so important is that there are two big surprises in nature that we particle physicists and our friends have to confront. The first is that the cosmological constant [often referred to as “dark `energy’ ” in public settings] is amazingly small, compared to what you’d naturally expect.
Do you think nothing is a big deal?
Nothing is EVER a big deal. If something doesn’t go right, no need to freak out. There’s always a solution to a problem. If you listen to the Stoic philosophers and to the Taoists, they seem to believe things will work out one way or another.
Which is more unnatural, the standard model or naturalness?
There’s only one aspect of physics — perhaps only one aspect in all of science — that is more unnatural than the Standard Model, and that’s the cosmological constant. I think the concept of naturalness is best illuminated by a bit of story-telling.
For our purposes here, the reason the notion of naturalness is so important is that there are two big surprises in nature that we particle physicists and our friends have to confront. The first is that the cosmological constant [often referred to as “dark `energy’ ” in public settings] is amazingly small, compared to what you’d naturally expect.
Which is the best definition of what’s natural?
In practice, what’s natural is often identified by testability. Natural things behave in predictable ways — though we may not yet fully understand them — which have observable outcomes. This predictability means that we can test hypotheses about natural entities by making observations.
There’s only one aspect of physics — perhaps only one aspect in all of science — that is more unnatural than the Standard Model, and that’s the cosmological constant. I think the concept of naturalness is best illuminated by a bit of story-telling.
What makes a natural thing predictable and observable?
Natural things behave in predictable ways — though we may not yet fully understand them — which have observable outcomes. This predictability means that we can test hypotheses about natural entities by making observations.
