Lost in Math : How Beauty Leads Physics Astray

**A contrarian argues that modern physicists' 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. The hidden rules of physics: in which I realize I don't understand physics anymore. I talk to friends and colleagues, see I'm not the only one confused, and set out to bring reason back to Earth What a wonderful world: in which I read a lot of books about dead people and find that everyone likes pretty ideas but that pretty ideas sometimes work badly. On a conference I begin to worry that physicists are about to discard the scientific method The state of the union: in which I sum up 10 years of education in 30 pages and chat about the glory days of particle physics Cracks in the foundations: in which I meet with Nima Arkani-Hamed and do my best to accept that nature isn't natural, everything we learn is awesome, and that nobody gives a fuck what I think Ideal theories: in which I search for the end of science but find that the imagination of theoretical physicists is endless. I fly to Austin, I let Steven Weinberg talk at me, and realize how much we do just to avoid boredom The incomprehensible comprehensibility of quantum mechanics: in which I ponder the difference between math and magic One to rule them all: in which I try to find out if anyone would care about the laws of nature if they weren't beautiful. I stop off in Arizona, where Frank Wilczek tells me his little Theory of Something, then I fly to Maui and listen to Garrett Lisi. I learn some ugly facts and count physicists Space, the final frontier: in which I try to understand a string theorist and almost succeed The universe, all there is, and the rest: in which I admire the many ways to explain why nobody sees the particles we invent Knowledge is power: in which I conclude the world were a better place if everyone listened to me Appendix A: The standard model particles Appendix B: The trouble with naturalness Appendix C: What you can do to help.. 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. Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 4 Table of Contents......Page 6 Dedication......Page 9 Epigraph......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Chapter 1: The Hidden Rules of Physics......Page 12 Chapter 2: What a Wonderful World......Page 27 Chapter 3: The State of the Union......Page 50 Chapter 4: Cracks in the Foundations......Page 76 Chapter 5: Ideal Theories......Page 96 Chapter 6: The Incomprehensible Comprehensibility of Quantum Mechanics......Page 124 Chapter 7: One to Rule Them All......Page 142 Chapter 8: Space, the Final Frontier......Page 172 Chapter 9: The Universe, All There Is, and the Rest......Page 194 Chapter 10: Knowledge Is Power......Page 219 Acknowledgments......Page 233 About the Author......Page 234 Also by Sabine Hossenfelder......Page 235 Appendix A: The Standard Model Particles......Page 236 Appendix B: The Trouble with Naturalness......Page 238 Appendix C: What You Can Do to Help......Page 240 Notes......Page 244 Index......Page 273 "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"-- Provided by publisher