String theory, another pipe dream?

Forums: Science, Physics, Philosophy Of Mind, String Theory, Pipe Dream
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Eleven dimensions, parallel universes, and a world made out of strings. It's not science fiction, it's string theory.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/elegant-universe.html

What's the difference between theory and science fiction? Both are flights of fancy

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@Rickoshay75,

Rick that's really a good question

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@Rickoshay75,

A theory demands empirical support rather than fancy

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@daphdevisser,

Quote:

A theory demands empirical support rather than fancy

Disagree, Daph. Intuition is capable of massive feats without direct scientific support

It's widely acknowledged that Einstein's theory of Relativity rested largely on such intuitions

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@dalehileman,

dalehileman wrote:

Quote:
A theory demands empirical support rather than fancy

Disagree, Daph. Intuition is capable of massive feats without direct scientific support

It's widely acknowledged that Einstein's theory of Relativity rested largely on such intuitions

Since everything has always been relative to everything else, Einstein's theory was more like a wake-up call, and he never really proved his light bending theory.

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@Rickoshay75,

Quote:

Einstein's theory was more like a wake-up call

Still Rick consensus has it that he started with mere intuitions

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@dalehileman,

dalehileman wrote:

Quote:
Einstein's theory was more like a wake-up call
Still Rick consensus has it that he started with mere intuitions

Since there was no way to test Einstein's theories at the time, still isn't, he could only use his intuitions, like the rest of us.

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@Rickoshay75,

Quote:

he could only use his intuitions,

….making them nonetheless valuable. Incidentally some of his conclusions were later verified

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I think the point is that string theory is as valid as any other theory that's basically untestable.

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@Lustig Andrei,

Yes Andy I think you're right but I was merely defending intuition

…while relativity is testable in many of its assertions

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@daphdevisser,

daphdevisser wrote:

A theory demands empirical support rather than fancy

You take your empirical support, I'll take independent demonstration.

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Fate leads him who follows it, drags him who resist. Plutarch

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String theory, another pipe dream?

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