Theory of Everything

noun

1. a theory intended to show that the electroweak, strong, and gravitational forces are components of a single quantized force.

theory of everything

1. A physical theory, such as a grand unified theory, that attempts to explain all physical matter and interactions under a single unified set of principles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Theory of Everything¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

"Therefore, no physically complete and consistent theory of everything can be derived from computation alone. Rather, it requires a non-algorithmic understanding, which is more fundamental than the computational laws of quantum gravity and therefore more fundamental than spacetime itself."

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"The fundamental laws of physics cannot be contained within space and time, because they generate them. It has long been hoped, however, that a truly fundamental theory of everything could eventually describe all physical phenomena through computations grounded in these laws. Yet we have demonstrated that this is not possible. A complete and consistent description of reality requires something deeper -- a form of understanding known as non-algorithmic understanding."

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“Even if we imagine that humanity will ultimately discover a ‘theory of everything’ covering all individual particles and forces, that theory’s explanatory value for the universe as a whole is likely to be marginal,” Dr. Pontzen wrote.

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Both sides agree that humans won’t ever find a theory of everything everything.

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Still, “the unification of the four fundamental forces, if verified experimentally one day, will be admirable and a great feat—but it will be far from the TOE, the truth of the universe,” says Demetris Nicolaides, a theoretical physicist at Bloomfield College and author of the book In Search of a Theory of Everything: The Philosophy behind Physics.

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