Two very different points. One is the whole “multiverse” theory. In that view, different physical laws could hold in different “universes.” To the extent that we might ever be able to travel between them, would this not violate the “(multi)universality” of those laws?
Also, of course, there is the problem that the conditions under which such laws do not always hold, indeed may never hold completely. The law of gravity holds precisely only in a perfect vacuum. But there are no perfect vacuums. Now there are plenty where it holds very closely, but there are also many quite relevant to use where it does not even come close to holding, as when air resistance is sufficient to substantially change the rate at which a body’s movement towards the earth accelerates, even possibly changing the sign for a period of time (watch the helium balloon go up into the air, dear).
Regarding the multiverse: Yes, the constants might vary between universes. I don’t think this would say anything about how reliable they are in this universe, but it does say that we’d need to be careful not to vaporize ourselves if ever we go exploring.
Regarding the laws not always applying: It seems to me that gravity is still working the same way in those situations. The spacetime around Earth is curved the same, the force gravity exerts on all the objects is the same. It’s just other things also happening (friction with the air, buoyancy) at the same time producing a different effect than if only one force was in play. No law is being violated or changed. The effects are just produced by the sum of the effects of all the laws. Which is right and proper, because all the laws are patterns in the behavior of quarks and electrons.
EDIT: I didn’t realize Eliezer’s reply two comments down was a response to Barkely, so this comment is redundant.
Two very different points. One is the whole “multiverse” theory. In that view, different physical laws could hold in different “universes.” To the extent that we might ever be able to travel between them, would this not violate the “(multi)universality” of those laws?
Also, of course, there is the problem that the conditions under which such laws do not always hold, indeed may never hold completely. The law of gravity holds precisely only in a perfect vacuum. But there are no perfect vacuums. Now there are plenty where it holds very closely, but there are also many quite relevant to use where it does not even come close to holding, as when air resistance is sufficient to substantially change the rate at which a body’s movement towards the earth accelerates, even possibly changing the sign for a period of time (watch the helium balloon go up into the air, dear).
Regarding the multiverse: Yes, the constants might vary between universes. I don’t think this would say anything about how reliable they are in this universe, but it does say that we’d need to be careful not to vaporize ourselves if ever we go exploring.
Regarding the laws not always applying: It seems to me that gravity is still working the same way in those situations. The spacetime around Earth is curved the same, the force gravity exerts on all the objects is the same. It’s just other things also happening (friction with the air, buoyancy) at the same time producing a different effect than if only one force was in play. No law is being violated or changed. The effects are just produced by the sum of the effects of all the laws. Which is right and proper, because all the laws are patterns in the behavior of quarks and electrons.
EDIT: I didn’t realize Eliezer’s reply two comments down was a response to Barkely, so this comment is redundant.