Not Even Wrong : The Failure of String Theory and the Search for Unity in Physical Law for Unity in Physical Law

Has physics gone off in the wrong direction? Peter Woit presents the other side of the growing debate on string theory--arguing that it's not even science.;Particle physics at the turn of the millennium -- The instruments of production -- Quantum theory -- Quantum field theory -- Gauge symmetry and Gauge theories -- The standard model -- Triumph of the standard model -- Problems of the standard model -- Beyond the standard model -- New insights in quantum field theory and mathematics -- String theory : history -- String theory and supersymmetry : an evaluation -- On beauty and difficulty -- Is superstring theory science? -- The Bogdanov affair -- The only game in town : the power and the glory of string theory -- The landscape of string theory -- Other points of view. 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. When does physics depart the realm of testable hypothesis and come to resemble theology? Peter Woit argues that string theory isn’t just going in the wrong direction, it’s not even science. Not Even Wrong shows that what many physicists call superstring “theory” is not a theory at all. It makes no predictions, not even wrong ones, and this very lack of falsifiability is what has allowed the subject to survive and flourish. Peter Woit explains why the mathematical conditions for progress in physics are entirely absent from superstring theory today, offering the other side of the story.