Conclusion
Physics progresses in a number of ways. As well as discovering increasingly general, overarching theories, it also seeks to unpeel successive layers of reality—to describe spacetime and matter at the smallest distance scales (and possibly even beyond).
Attempting to understand the potential conclusion of this second endeavour, I have drafted a list of nine criteria that a fundamental theory of physics must satisfy, according to physics itself. I argued that a physical theory’s fulfilment of these necessary conditions is jointly sufficient for it to be regarded, by current physics, as fundamental, while still recognising that there may be additional conditions discovered in the future. The epistemic worry that nags us to always keep digging for a more- fundamental theory—the worry that, no matter what theory we arrive at, there might still be new physics beyond—can be turned around, thanks to the two general principles that underlie the nine conditions. These principles are: Full, non-overlapping coverage of description, and comprehensiveness of explanation. If we believe these are satisfied, then the question shifts from “What if there’s something beyond?” to “Why should we think there is something beyond?” That is, the burden of justification is transferred. If a theory is found that satisfies all these conditions, and yet its status as fundamental is disputed, then we can ask why. The answer will either be unacceptable, or it will reveal further conditions to add to the list. Currently, however, we are still digging.
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