String Theory and the Scientific Method

2013-05-02
String Theory and the Scientific Method

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  • Author: Richard Dawid
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • ISBN: 1107067588
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 213

String theory has played a highly influential role in theoretical physics for nearly three decades and has substantially altered our view of the elementary building principles of the Universe. However, the theory remains empirically unconfirmed, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. So why do string theorists have such a strong belief in their theory? This book explores this question, offering a novel insight into the nature of theory assessment itself. Dawid approaches the topic from a unique position, having extensive experience in both philosophy and high-energy physics. He argues that string theory is just the most conspicuous example of a number of theories in high-energy physics where non-empirical theory assessment has an important part to play. Aimed at physicists and philosophers of science, the book does not use mathematical formalism and explains most technical terms.

Not Even Wrong

2007-03-09
Not Even Wrong

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  • Author: Peter Woit
  • Publisher: Basic Books
  • ISBN: 046500363X
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 336

At what point does theory depart the realm of testable hypothesis and come to resemble something like aesthetic speculation, or even theology? The legendary physicist Wolfgang Pauli had a phrase for such ideas: He would describe them as "not even wrong," meaning that they were so incomplete that they could not even be used to make predictions to compare with observations to see whether they were wrong or not. In Peter Woit's view, superstring theory is just such an idea. In Not Even Wrong , he shows that what many physicists call superstring "theory" is not a theory at all. It makes no predictions, even wrong ones, and this very lack of falsifiability is what has allowed the subject to survive and flourish. Not Even Wrong explains why the mathematical conditions for progress in physics are entirely absent from superstring theory today and shows that judgments about scientific statements, which should be based on the logical consistency of argument and experimental evidence, are instead based on the eminence of those claiming to know the truth. In the face of many books from enthusiasts for string theory, this book presents the other side of the story.

Why Trust a Theory?

2019-03-14
Why Trust a Theory?

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  • Author: Radin Dardashti
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • ISBN: 110860515X
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 451

Do we need to reconsider scientific methodology in light of modern physics? Has the traditional scientific method become outdated, does it need to be defended against dangerous incursions, or has it always been different from what the canonical view suggests? To what extent should we accept non-empirical strategies for scientific theory assessment? Many core aspects of contemporary fundamental physics are far from empirically well-confirmed. There is controversy on the epistemic status of the corresponding theories, in particular cosmic inflation, the multiverse, and string theory. This collection of essays is based on the high profile workshop 'Why Trust a Theory?' and provides interdisciplinary perspectives on empirical testing in fundamental physics from leading physicists, philosophers and historians of science. Integrating different contemporary and historical positions, it will be of interest to philosophers of science and physicists, as well as anyone interested in the foundations of contemporary science.

Why String Theory?

2016-08-19
Why String Theory?

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  • Author: Joseph Conlon
  • Publisher: CRC Press
  • ISBN: 1482242494
  • Category : Mathematics
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 256

Physics World's 'Book of the Year' for 2016 An Entertaining and Enlightening Guide to the Who, What, and Why of String Theory, now also available in an updated reflowable electronic format compatible with mobile devices and e-readers. During the last 50 years, numerous physicists have tried to unravel the secrets of string theory. Yet why do these scientists work on a theory lacking experimental confirmation? Why String Theory? provides the answer, offering a highly readable and accessible panorama of the who, what, and why of this large aspect of modern theoretical physics. The author, a theoretical physics professor at the University of Oxford and a leading string theorist, explains what string theory is and where it originated. He describes how string theory fits into physics and why so many physicists and mathematicians find it appealing when working on topics from M-theory to monsters and from cosmology to superconductors.

String Theory and the Scientific Method

2013-05-02
String Theory and the Scientific Method

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  • Author: Richard Dawid
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • ISBN: 1107029716
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 213

Explains why string theorists develop a strong belief in their theory despite the lack of empirical confirmation.

String Theory and the Real World

2017-03-27
String Theory and the Real World

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  • Author: Gordon Kane
  • Publisher: Morgan & Claypool Publishers
  • ISBN: 1681744902
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 83

This book attempts to explain why 'string theory' may provide the comprehensive underlying theory that describes and explains our world. It is an enthusiastic view of how compactified string/M-theories (plus data that may be reachable) seem to have the possibilities of leading to a comprehensive underlying theory of particle physics and cosmology, perhaps soon. We are living in a hugely exciting era for science, one during which it may be possible to achieve a real and true understanding of our physical world.

String Theory For Dummies

2009-11-16
String Theory For Dummies

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  • Author: Andrew Zimmerman Jones
  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
  • ISBN: 047046724X
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 387

A clear, plain-English guide to this complex scientific theory String theory is the hottest topic in physics right now, with books on the subject (pro and con) flying out of the stores. String Theory For Dummies offers an accessible introduction to this highly mathematical "theory of everything," which posits ten or more dimensions in an attempt to explain the basic nature of matter and energy. Written for both students and people interested in science, this guide explains concepts, discusses the string theory's hypotheses and predictions, and presents the math in an approachable manner. It features in-depth examples and an easy-to-understand style so that readers can understand this controversial, cutting-edge theory.

The Trouble with Physics

2006
The Trouble with Physics

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  • Author: Lee Smolin
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • ISBN: 9780618551057
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 420

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String Theory in a Nutshell

2019-04-16
String Theory in a Nutshell

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  • Author: Elias Kiritsis
  • Publisher: Princeton University Press
  • ISBN: 0691188963
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 883

The essential introduction to modern string theory—now fully expanded and revised String Theory in a Nutshell is the definitive introduction to modern string theory. Written by one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, this concise and accessible book starts with basic definitions and guides readers from classic topics to the most exciting frontiers of research today. It covers perturbative string theory, the unity of string interactions, black holes and their microscopic entropy, the AdS/CFT correspondence and its applications, matrix model tools for string theory, and more. It also includes 600 exercises and serves as a self-contained guide to the literature. This fully updated edition features an entirely new chapter on flux compactifications in string theory, and the chapter on AdS/CFT has been substantially expanded by adding many applications to diverse topics. In addition, the discussion of conformal field theory has been extensively revised to make it more student-friendly. The essential one-volume reference for students and researchers in theoretical high-energy physics Now fully expanded and revised Provides expanded coverage of AdS/CFT and its applications, namely the holographic renormalization group, holographic theories for Yang-Mills and QCD, nonequilibrium thermal physics, finite density physics, and entanglement entropy Ideal for mathematicians and physicists specializing in theoretical cosmology, QCD, and novel approaches to condensed matter systems An online illustration package is available to professors

Lost in Math

2018-06-12
Lost in Math

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  • Author: Sabine Hossenfelder
  • Publisher: Basic Books
  • ISBN: 0465094260
  • Category : Science
  • Languages : en
  • Pages : 286

In this "provocative" book (New York Times), a contrarian physicist argues that her field's modern obsession with beauty has given us wonderful math but bad science. Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth.