[FRIAM] String-bashing

[Jochen Fromm]

Although I agree that string theory cannot be the final
solution, I would have expected more from Smolin. It is 
too easy to bash others. That's what politicians do: 
constantly blaming others instead of suggesting better
solutions. Where is his theory of quantum gravity ?
His theory of "cosmic evolution" (proposed in "the life
of the cosmos") is not testable, either.

To explain everything, one has to start with nothing
(see Russell's new book), and show how everything 
appears or emerge out of nothing. If you start with
strings, that one may ask where the strings come 
from, what they are made of, why they live in 26 
dimensions, and why they interact in the way they do. 
I think the most important ingredient for a "Theory 
of Everything" is still good old evolution. 

-J.

-----Original Message-----
From: friam-bounces at redfish.com [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf
Of Owen Densmore
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:02 PM
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] String-bashing

Not yet published, but Lee Smolin has finally had enough with String  
Theory as well:

Amazon.com: The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The  
Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next: Books: Lee Smolin

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618551050/104-7070581-5619133?v=glance

In this groundbreaking book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee  
Smolin argues that physics-the basis for all other science-has lost  
its way. The problem is string theory, an ambitious attempt to  
formulate "a theory of everything" that explains all the forces and  
particles of nature and how the universe came to be. With its exotic  
new particles and parallel universes, string theory has captured the  
public"s imagination and seduced many physicists. But as Smolin  
reveals, there"s a deep flaw in the theory: no part of it has been  
proven, and no one knows how to prove it. As a scientific theory, it  
has been a colossal failure. And because it has soaked up the lion's  
share of funding, attracted some of the best minds, and penalized  
young physicists for pursuing other avenues, it is dragging the rest  
of physics down with it. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin  
charts the rise and fall of string theory and takes a fascinating  
look at what will replace it. A group of young theorists has begun to  
develop exciting new ideas that are, unlike string theory, testable.  
Smolin tells us who and what to watch for in the coming years and how  
we can find the next Einstein. This is a wake-up call, and Lee Smolin- 
a former string theorist himself- is the perfect person to deliver it.

     -- Owen

Owen Densmore
http://backspaces.net - http://redfish.com - http://friam.org


On Jun 24, 2006, at 8:07 AM, Robert Holmes wrote:

> Here's a fun string-bashing article:
> http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jun2006/notevenwrong.php
>
> It makes a couple of serious points though. What I found worrying  
> was the
> claim (for which the author provides some limited evidence) that it  
> is now
> impossible to get on in physics academia unless you drink the  
> string theory
> kool-aid. Whither (or should that be wither) academic freeedom?
>
> Robert
> ============================================================
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FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org