1. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 1 The Never-Ending Dream of Mankind: The Theory of Everything (TOE) Ruprecht Machleidt Department of Physics University of Idaho

2. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 2 The history of the quest for an all-embracing explanation of the world based upon REASONING and not based upon religion or mythology. In short: a comprehensive scientific explanation of the universe. What is this colloquium about?

3. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 3 When and where was the first attempt made? Why? The ideas of the ancient Greeks - from Thales to Democritus - Plato The TOE of modern physics Outline

4. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 4 Egypt Meso pota mia India China 3000-1000 B.C. 600 B.C. Miletus 600 B.C.

5. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 5 Miletus 600 B.C. Thales of Miletus 625-547 B.C. “Theorem by Thales”

6. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 6 The seven sages Thales of Miletos Cleobulos of Rhodos Bias of Priene Pittacos of Mytilene Solon of Athens Periandros Chilon of Lacedaimon Thales

7. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 7 Why did it happen at that time and place? Many cultures, races, languages: “the Greek genius was catalyzed by Egyptian and Asiatic ferments.” Greek religion was a lose collection of cults and myths No established priesthood or clergy No strong political power Warm/pleasant climate, fertile environment, thriving commercial port The sea and its liberating and inspiring influence

8. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 8

9. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 9 Ionia Ephesus Miletus Athens

10. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 10 The Ionians: What is THE Primary Element? “APEIRON”

11. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 11 Ionia Ephesus Miletus

12. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 12 ONE Primary Element from which everything else is generated by transformations There is only THE BEING: all-pervading, never changing. Changes are sensory deceptions. 4 Elements

13. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 13 Ionia Ephesus Miletus

14. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 14 ONE Primary Element from which everything else is generated by transformations There is only THE BEING: all-pervading, never changing. Changes are sensory deceptions. ATOMS : indivisible, unchangeable (‘THE BEING’). Variety of phenomena : variations in arrangement and movement of atoms. critus

15. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 15 ATOMS : They come in infinitely many sizes and shapes! 4 atoms 4 elements 4 polyhedra

16. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 16

17. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 17

18. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 18

19. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 19

20. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 20 Plato’s theory of “elementary particles”

21. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 21 Anaximander Pythagoras Heraclitus Parmenides

22. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 22 Anaximander Pythagoras Heraclitus Parmenides Plato Aristotle

23. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 23 Interest in basic science Thales Plato Aristotle Democritus

24. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 24 Science in the Middle Ages based upon Aristotle, religion, and mysticism

25. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 25 Interest in basic science

26. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 26 Interest in basic science

27. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 27 Turns away from Aristotle; revives atomism of Democritus (and Epicurus). Chemical elements in the modern sense The chemical elements represented by ATOMS 1 p p n n quarks 1911 1932 1963

28. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 28 Mathem. Symmetry SU(N) Symmetries of Polyhedra Plato, 350 B.C. Today AD 2000

29. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 29 Conclusions The quest for a theory of everything has challenged the greatest intellects for almost three millennia. We have seen enormous progress during the past century. The best ideas of the antiquity (Democritus, Plato) have been confirmed in modern days. Mathematical structures (“Symmetries”) are the foundation of modern particles physics, an idea that was already advanced by Plato. The ultimate theory of everything will be Platonic.

30. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 30 The End

31. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 31 Interest in basic science

32. R. MachleidtNever-Endiing Dream: TOE UI Colloq 11-Oct-2005 32