WHY IS THE UNIVERSE INTELLIGIBLE?

There are two very important questions raised by the quest of theoretical physics theory to find explanations for the origins of the universe:

1. What is implied about the meaning of human nature that we should desire so strongly to explore these questions?

“Why should our cognitive processes have tuned themselves to such an extravagant quest as the understanding of the entire Universe? Why should it be us? None of the sophisticated ideas involved appear to offer any selective advantage to be exploited during the pre-conscious period of our evolution. … How fortuitous that our minds (or at least the minds of some) should be poised to fathom the depths of Nature’s secrets.”

—John Barrow, “Theories of Everything: The Quest for Ultimate Explanation,” p. 172 (1991)

2. What does it mean that the universe is ordered enough to lend itself to such explorations?

“The only incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”

—Albert Einstein