Reconsidering the Foundations of Physics: From Symmetry to Asymmetry as a Guiding Principle

Gunter Muchow

Abstract: This essay examines the role of symmetry and asymmetry across the natural sciences, with particular emphasis on physics. Symmetry has historically guided mathematical formalism and theoretical development, yet its meaning in physics has diverged from its everyday and biological meanings, where it signifies proportion, structure, and observable patterns. Historical developments from geometry and crystallography to modern gauge theories are reviewed, highlighting how the pursuit of symmetry has shaped, though sometimes constrained, conceptual understanding. Contrastingly, asymmetry emerges as a fundamental principle underpinning physical phenomena, the arrow of time, molecular chirality, and the evolution of life. By analysing examples from particle physics, cosmology, and chemistry, the essay argues that embracing asymmetry provides explanatory power where symmetry-based frameworks fall short. The discussion advocates for a conceptual shift in physics: moving beyond the dogma of symmetry to integrate asymmetry as a guiding principle for understanding the dynamic, directional, and structured reality of the universe.

Keywords: symmetry, asymmetry, symmetry breaking, chirality, invariance

How to Cite?: Gunter Muchow, "Reconsidering the Foundations of Physics: From Symmetry to Asymmetry as a Guiding Principle", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1541-1546, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251212154258, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251212154258