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 Not Even WrongThe Failure of String Theory and the Search for Unity in Physical Lawby Peter Woit Sep 4, 2006
DescriptionAt 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. Reviews“[A] bill of indictment that is a mixture of science, philosophy, aesthetics, and, surprisingly, sociology.... Woit argues that string theory’s lack of rigor has left its practitioners unable to distinguish between a scientific hoax and a genuine contribution.... [P]resent[s] the case against string theory with wit and conviction.” “[A]rgue[s] passionately that string theory has played itself out. In the two and a half decades since it first captivated physicists, despite thousands of published papers and the expenditure of billions of dollars, there is no proof whatsoever that string theory is correct. Not one prediction of the theory has been experimentally testable.” “Woit offers some intriguing ruminations on the relationship between physics and mathematics....” “[Woit] explores the interface between maths and physics, concluding that mathematicians view string theory as physics and physicists regard it as mathematics. The two communities are at odds over whether string theory is a series of abstract puzzles or whether it says something about the real world. The idea that beauty can point to scientific truth served Einstein well. Sadly for science, it may have misled a later generation of theoretical physicists” “[L]ively and entertaining” “The story of how a backwater of theoretical physics became not just the rage but the establishment has all the booms and busts of an Old West mining town.” “[A]n intriguing view of a significant scientific controversy...” “[A] tightly argued, beautifully written account...” “[A] call to arms for physicists to pursue multiple paths in search of truth, not funding.” Selling TerritoryWorld Excluding Canada, UK & Commonwealth |
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