Why Physics?

Why do we, the human civilization, need physics? What does it contribute to humanity's bigger picture? Below is a short explanation.

Physics describes the nature of our universe. It tells us more about the nature of our universe. Simply, it is human nature to want to know about the world around us. You wouldn't want to live in a house and not know anything about it. You would likely be curious and want to know more about the house. The same goes with our universe, and possibly multiverse. We should understand what is around us. Sure, it may be difficult, unrevealing, and hard at times, but as one of my mentors from summer camp told me, "The world gives you comfort. But you are not made for comfort, you are made for greatness." (This quote was originially said by Pope Benedict XVI.) We, as a human civilization, should and will continue to strive for a deeper understanding of our world. We cannot be educated inhabitants of our universe without knowing anything about it. Not everyone needs to know about physics, but humanity as a whole should at least recognize physics' importance and neccessity as it applies to human nature.

I did not even mention that physics also improves our universe's innovations at the present. The laws of thermodynamics helped create better engines. Classical mechanics makes all sorts of predictions about every day objects, that we can use from models of a throw of a baseball, making catapaults, or predicting the orbits of planets. Quantum mechanics has paved the way for 21st century technology, like with qubits and will continue to do so with quantum computing and quantum encryption. Knowing about electromagnetic waves has helped us with cooking, the radio, X-rays, and stopping cancer. Understanding nuclear physics helps us create nuclear bombs. Knowing gravity helps bring astronauts to and from space. The list goes on and on for the present. But physics will continue to pave humanity's future innovations. More understanding of relativity will help us maybe develop ships that travel to other planets, especially if we can no longer live on Earth anymore due to whatever reason. We could also find ways to better use energy, through E=mc^2, like we did with atomic bombs. There is so much promise.

Whether it be an appeal of human nature or of physics' past accomplishments, I hope that this writing soldified the importance of physics,

NOTE: I am writing this without any reference to other lectures about the importance of physics. Similarities similar to other writings on this topic is completely unintentional.