The Equation for the Theory of Everything

By LUKE MCGOVERN
Published: April 29, 2008

The equation for the Theory of Everything (ToE) must leave no stone unturned and no possibilities for future contradictions. Great theories and equations have evolved and been broken over time and this will continue to happen as we as humankind push the boundaries of ultimate understanding.

Theory of Everything, in simple notation:

0 = 1 = ∞

This equation was reached through philosophical analysis as opposed to mathematical analysis (which could be regarded as a top-down approach) and will no doubt receive much criticism from the scientific community. On first glance any mathematician can point out that the equation breaks the basic premise where the LHS must equal the RHS. I stand firm that despite appearances this rule is not broken by the equation.

Before elaborating on the fundamentals of the equation I wish to point out, my background is software development and this equation is the result of understanding the gap between human intelligence and artificial intelligence.

We are very much in the Digital Age of the Information Era, and as such, computers do our bidding with binary based systems and struggle to handle anything based on the Infinite. As we begin quantum computing we start to deal with the uncertainty principle and find we need methods to keep the binary system alive even if the form is not well suited.

Computers are still on the same level as calculators. There are superficial examples of artificial intelligence, but to my knowledge, not one machine or software instance has shown any capability of learning or understanding, and as far as I'm concerned, anything currently claiming to be AI is a parlor trick or simply a hard hack, and I would be glad to be shown otherwise.

In explaining the equation I will put forward an example:

I pick an apple from a tree. Its stem has a leaf and the stem is still attached. I hold the apple up in one hand and ask "Do I have an apple in my hand?" You would say yes assuming you're not insane or expecting a trick question. If I pull the stem out of the top of the apple and hand to you the tasty red fruit with the stem still in my hand I ask you, "Who now has the apple?"

There are at least 3 possible answers to this question:

1) you say that you have the apple

2) you say that I have the apple - even though I only hold the stem

3) you say we both have the apple

This is an example of fuzzy logic. If you think in the situation you would agree with answer number 1, would you still answer the same way if I, pulled out the stem, peeled the apple, keeping the skin, handed you the white ball of flesh and asked you "Who now has the apple?" If you still think number 1 is the correct answer then I ask you, "How much of the apple do I have to keep before you will change your mind"?

My point is there is no reality of where the apple ends and the rest of the world begins and that this phenomenon can only be described as the Infinite. Nothing is an island on its own. An apple is an abstract concept taught to us from a very young age when understanding anything about our Universe with our primitive senses is an amazing achievement. When I was 4, I didn't need to know the mechanics of time and space or the fact there's no such a thing as an apple except for the concept that exists in the human psyche and perhaps in the psyche of other living creatures.

Although the equation for the ToE has risen out of a side project relating to AI it none the less encompasses all of the physical Universe. 1 = 0 just as much as 1 = 1. There is no start and there is no end. The Digital Age will have to get over the idea of black and white, on and off, one and zero. If not, we will continue to see computer limits like Y2K, IPv4, Y2K38 throughout history and quantum computing will not realise it's true potential and mathematics will remain unimaginative.