Hawking: No 'Theory of Everything'

Flash Modin writes "In a Scientific American essay based on their new book A Grand Design, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow are now claiming physicists may never find a theory of everything. Instead, they propose a 'family of interconnected theories' might emerge, with each describing a certain reality under specific conditions. The claim is a reversal for Hawking, who claimed in 1980 that there would be a unified theory by the turn of the century."

Comments

I know I'm talkin about Hawking but...

[geekymachoman]

... There are theories around that he probably didn't read, because of scientific prejudice towards the material.. I read a few, that are considered by scientific community as garbage, without them reading it and keeping an open mind / being skeptical.

The book is called My Big Toe, a physicist. Written by Thomas Campbell. So if someone is interested in this kind of stuff, I suggest you read it, not because of my recommendation, but because you would have one more concept/idea to keep an eye for, and try to prove or disprove what is written there, therefore help the 'movement' evolve.. make room for new ideas and concepts that will push us forward.

Being closed minded and full of prejudice doesn't help, never did.

stephen hawking is a hypocrite

[Kristopeit, Mike Da.]

the theory that there is "no theory of everything" is in itself a theory of everything.

Let's Count Them...

[Chagatai]

Here's his most recent statements that seem just off:

-Don't contact ET. On the one hand, what are the odds that we will do so? On the other hand, oops, you're about 100 years too late if we count radio signals alone, ignoring the big thrust that took place in the 70s and 80s.

-No need for God, gravity made everything. Creation versus evolution aside, doesn't gravity describe the attraction between particles based on their mass? So, if you have no particles, how could gravity make something ex nihilo?

-No Grand Unified Theory. Seems like a bit of hubris taking its course here. "If I can't find it, no one will!"

Re:Celebrity physicist troll train

[leptons]

Hawking is full of shit, always has been. Time will wipe away all he has said, and replace it with actual science.

Re:unified theory by the turn of the century

[jd]

Since his position was not that we'd actually have a theory of anything (read through my post again) but rather would discover something new that would force us to abandon our prior notion of what a unified theory would be, he has NOT revised his position but actually demonstrated what he set out to demonstrate.

If you do not understand this, I will write out what he said in pseudo-code:

if (declare(physics) == complete)
{
    fscanf(physics, "%s", newDiscovery);
    prove(physics, incomplete);
}