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Is String Theory Really a Scientific Theory?
vk38 writes, "The New Yorker is running a story on whether String Theory is really a scientific theory or just an abstract exercise in math designed to churn out papers and Ph.Ds for the established academics. The article reviews two current books, by Lee Smolin and Peter Woit, laying out the case against string theory."
From the article: "Dozens of string-theory conferences have been held, hundreds of new Ph.D.s have been minted, and thousands of papers have been written. Yet... not a single new testable prediction has been made, not a single theoretical puzzle has been solved. In fact, there is no theory so far — just a set of hunches and calculations suggesting that a theory might exist. And, even if it does, this theory will come in such a bewildering number of versions that it will be of no practical use: a Theory of Nothing... String theory has always had a few vocal skeptics... Sheldon Glashow, who won a Nobel Prize for making one of the last great advances in physics before the beginning of the string-theory era, has likened string theory to a 'new version of medieval theology,' and campaigned to keep string theorists out of his own department at Harvard. (He failed.)"
String theory sounds weak. Let's upgrade the name so it sounds like it has to be true. Henceforth it will be referred to as String Fact.
I'll even throw a bone to an entrepreneural slashdotter out there. STRINGFACT.COM is not registered yet. It is yours for the taking.
Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
So which is it: the best of times or the worst of times?
According to Schrodinger, both.
Finkployd
Short Answer: No.
Long Answer: Yes.
Longer Answer: Both of the above, but each in a separate Universe.
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
What's the diameter of the earth at sunrise? Can I use the same stick?
I am a geek, but I have seriously problems with math ability. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree.
;)
Sorry to break it to you, but you're a hippie, not a geek.
Developers: We can use your help.
You lost me at "literally almost astronomical."
Theoretically, string theory makes testable predictions and that makes the statement 'string theory makes testable predictions' a meta theory without technically fulfilling the requirements to be a theory itself and validates string theory by asserting an infinite regress which allows string theory the theory to ultimately make a testable prediction. Likewise, the statement 'theoretically, string theory makes testable predictions' can be made valid with the meta meta statement: Theoretically, in theory, string theory makes testable predictions.
Finally, all doubt can be laid to rest by validating the meta meta theory with:
In theory, theoretically, in theory, string theory makes testable predictions!
bite my glorious golden ass.
Damn. I was hoping my B.A. in Mathematics would forever cement my geekiness, but now I find out that I'm just a damn dirty hippy. I better go try out for the barefoot bong-loaders frisbee team.