Introduction

When we as conscious beings observe interactions between matter we deduce certain, reducible outcomes. Furthermore, if these outcomes combine in just the right way, we can observe emergent phenomenon, that also obey certain rules.

A question I’ve been asking myself lately is why do these rules even exist in the first place?

Why do we have rules? And why does matter obey rules? Why couldn’t we have a universe where no outcomes where ever generated?

”Rules”

First, what do I mean when I say “rules.” I’m referring to the known “laws” that seem to define how the observable matter in our universe interacts. For example, atoms obey certain rules: how protons interact with electrons, and how electrons interact with other atoms. From a few rules governing the interactions of atoms, we then can see how molecules interact, then proteins, then cells and bacteria, up to the astronomical scale (ie how planets interact with gravity).

Now some might say, “but these so-called ‘rules’ are really just us humans ascribing some concrete definition to particles interacting.”

Yes, but as far as we know, the “rule” perspective is the best next step we can take to understand more. The alternative, to say that matter does not interact according to these rules (and everything is arbitrary) not only doesn’t align with our observations, but also doesn’t open up the discussion (kinda like the nihilistic route).

So, let’s entertain the idea that matter follows rules. Back to the question of where do these rules come from? And why do they exist in the first place?

Let’s explore a couple ideas first.

The Infinite Parallel Rules

At first, some physicists might claim that there are in fact an infinite number of parallel universes, each with their own set of rules, and we just so happened to be living in the universe which carries out these specific rules we observe (and thus the ones that are also just the right rules to generate life). But what would this mean practically? Would there also then be an infinite amount of matter? How can we get infinite parallel universes yet have the same amount of matter, do they lie in different dimensions? See all of these questions keep spiraling down, and I don’t think this exact perspective is a productive one.

So instead, we need a new term: “rule-particles.”

Theory #1: “Rule-Particles”

Not sure how to best introduce this theory, as its my first time writing it down, but here’s my attempt. When I asked myself where these rules for atoms comes from, the answer might be the subatomic particles (ie quarks). But where do the quarks get their rules from, and so on. It becomes an infinite recursion, with seemingly no end.

At some point we have to take an axiomatic system. And that shall be the very rules themselves (which I call “rule-particles”). The rules are the particles, and the particles are the rules.

The rule-particles make up the very most fundamental particles, the building blocks for everything. And they are rearrangeable.

The best analogy I’ve found to this is like puzzle/lego pieces. Each distinct piece has it’s own shape (the rules for rule-particles) and the “right” combination of the pieces allow further emergent properties and/or other building blocks.

So the right arrangement of these rule-particles might give you the quarks, atoms, and the universal laws we observe here, but they might also give you something completely different, all depending on how the rule-particles are arranged.

The Infinite Parallel Rules (Contd)

Let’s imagine an infinite chain of Big Bang-like events. Where each one creates a universe (that has a unique arrangement of rule-particles) that then collapses into another universe. For Example, Universe A collapses into a big-bang-like event, that starts Universe B, which collapses, then Universe C, then Universe D, etc. until infinity. Each one of these Big Bang-esk events reorders the previous universe’s rule-particles. Like a giant bowl, where the “puzzle pieces” are shook/mixed until they randomly arrange into bigger pieces (the subatomic particles and rules we see today).

Each rearrangement of the fundamental rule-particles defines new behavior/rules for that universe, since the fundamental rules are particles and vice versa, emergent rules are built out of the fundamental rules, and the observable rules are really an emergent property of these fundamental particles.

And so everything in our “observable” universe right now is from “our Big Bang,” when that particular orientation of rule-particles gave the current matter and rules we see.

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One might ask, “Doesn’t the same same inquiry of where the rules come from also apply to rule-particles?” Yes it does. See, some rule-particles might not have a rule (analogous to zero in the numerical system, which leaves the addition system unchanged), essentially a particle that doesn’t productively interact with other particles.

Another troubling thought is: if these particles are interacting, isn’t that itself a rule? Where does that come from?

• but then the very interaction of these rule-particles, is in of itself a “rule.” where does that come from?
• Well the rule-particles themselves define the rules. there is not overarching system that defines what rules there are. so every rule-particle has an internal definition of its own rule. and every other rule-particle might do the same, completley indepdently of other particles.
• its like a system that has both paper puzzle pieces and plastic lego pieces. there’s no overarchign system that says you can only have lego pieces; no. it simply an internal process where you end up with a wide variety of particles; some might intereact with each other, and some might not. there’s not restriction to how they interact other then the internal definition each particle has. so every particle that doesn’t end up interacting with other particles, is “sent to the null-space” for this particular universe.

**infinite universes that expand and collapse, and at each collapse/explosion, some fundamental particles/building blocks rearrange to define new behavior/rules. The observable “rules” are really an emergent property of these fundamental particles (smaller than quarks).

and thats why everything that is “observable” right now in our current universe is to the big bang, when that particular orientation of “rule-particles” gave the current matter/rules we see.