Re: [asa] String theory and what that means

Burgy,
  The first and primary difference is that string theory has no data to
support its claims, nor do its proponents claim to have any. By contrast, GW
and evolution have a myriad of data connected with their theories.
  Secondly, even in string theory the lack of alternative papers is in no
case, to my knowledge, because of peer reviewers rejecting them on account
of a bias. Rather, Smolin talks about which projects tend to get funded.
That's a major difference.
  So I think you can rest assured on all accounts.

  Randy

----- Original Message -----
From: "j burg" <hossradbourne@gmail.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 3:57 PM
Subject: [asa] String theory and what that means

> The initial question is -- has anyone (particularly Murphy and Moorad)
> read Lee Smolin's recent book THE TROUBLE WITH PHYSICS?
>
> If so -- what are your comments?
>
> Lee Smolin addresses the apparent failure (over 25 years) of string
> theory and attributes it, at least in part, to the "false consensus"
> that arose among its practioners. This, in turn, directed physics to a
> very conservative approach to quantum problems, and stifled other
> (possibly productive) research.
>
> The first thing I thought of when I read this very interesting book
> was the question "does the problem Lee addresses (assuming it is real)
> also apply to global warming? To evolution?
>
> For instance, it has been claimed in defense of the IPCC claims that
> there have been no peer reviewed articles published in the past 4 or 5
> years critical of their primary thesis. Could it be that such articles
> do exist but cannot get published because of peer reviews?
>
> A similar question could be made of evolutionary theory.
>
> Note that I'm just playing the part of a skeptic here. Personally I
> find the evidences for the fact of evolution and the fact of global
> warming both to be overwhelming. But something tells me (at least in
> the case of GW) that I am not hearing all the story.
> --
> Burgy
>
> www.burgy.50megs.com
>
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Received on Mon Aug 11 17:32:12 2008