What is the Hierarchy Problem?

Abstract

Is there a Hierarchy Problem? If so, what, exactly, is the problem? Almost every theorist has a personal answer to these questions. In this article, I give my answers. I will explain that the Hierarchy Problem is not a formal problem but rather our ignorance of a crucial physics explanation -- the explanation of the nature of the Higgs boson. Without the solution to this problem, we cannot make progress on the major questions of our field.

Comments: 14 pages, invited contribution to a special issue of Nuclear Physics B: "Clarifying Common Misconceptions in High Energy Physics and Cosmology", E. 0 Colgain and Y. Farzan, eds ; v2: typo corrections, references added; v3: typo corrections from the journal copy-edit