Dear Paul Davies,
> ... which is to say that the originating event, or process, is treated as lawlike, and not as an unexplained initial condition.
I suppose the idea of "A lawlike origin" has been traversed by researchers in many different ways, particularly in the sense, what could create those laws. Even mathematical origin has run into problems, what mathematics must be selected, and what provides physical existentialism to that. Also, mathematics is arbitrary to the extent that it depends on axiomatic system selected, and there cannot be any limit to what can be selected. So, even the discovery of mathematical relations (theorems) are contingent on the arbitrariness of axioms. A totally different viewpoint is required now; one such possibility of creation is discussed in the essay, Mother of all Existence, that shows even pure lawlessness or random exchanges between null reality and existence can create a physical universe or function like the known universe.
> In addition, the (ultimate, fundamental) laws are taken to be infinitely precise mathematical relationships.
One of the reasons that infinite precision is opted is because changes do occur upon interaction with definite results, and if interactions are non- deterministic, then how does a definite consequence arise? Moreover, entirely deterministic function with finite quantized states can only be cyclic over eternity, and continuum like infinity is indeterminate as discussed in the essay. Moreover, a deterministic universe (function) cannot come into and go out of existence, that would require an arbitrary jump, and the function cannot switch from one set of laws to another as may be required even in case of a priori Platonic existence (though I am not sure of the term Platonic). A limited indeterminism is the only path of rescue for creation, and it is possible to argue that limited indeterminism may arise when underlying reality is a continuum, but the permissible observable transitions are in quanta.
Rajiv
