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

Book Description

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

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.

Customer Reviews:

The Fall of Strings.......2007-10-06

String theorists have so far been unable to use their results to predict new experimental findings. This book and Smolin's 'The Trouble with Physics' both attempt to document this failure of string theory. Smolin's book is better, but a tougher read. But this book is not bad, and you may want to read them both.

Woit dissects "the only game in town".......2007-10-02

"The fundamental problem with string theory is that, as far as its central goal of unifying physics goes, over the last nearly 25 years it has not only not made any progress toward explaining anything about particle physics, but, quite the opposite. Everything that has been learned about string theory makes it more and more clear that the original hopes for getting unification this way were just misguided and can't work. The derivative here is the wrong sign." Peter Woit, posted on his weblog September 13, 2007.

Some readers may think that this book gets off to a painfully slow start, given the author's long telling of the history of particle physics, particularly as regards work done with particle accelerators/ colliders. But stay with it [it's worth it!]. Woit holds degrees from Harvard and Princeton (PhD, theoretical physics) and has taught both mathematics and physics at Columbia. He happily describes himself as a mathematician, in large part because that is indeed the career he has chosen but also in large part because he is obviously disgusted with the current state of theoretical physics--in so far as the superstring/ M-theory disciples of Witten have abandoned anything resembling orthodox science. Woit shows no hesitation in acknowledging Witten's great genius, but unlike most theorists of recent decades he is not interested in worshiping at Witten's feet, no matter what the cost. And Woit isn't just some disgruntled nay-saying spoilsport (I can't strictly judge the psychological state of someone I don't personally know, but he doesn't strike me in this way at all). His concern is that there are other prospects for a unified theory that have been summarily brushed aside by the popular mantra that "string theory is the only game in town." [Federal] research funding, positions of influence notably including department chairs, academic and research hirings, increasingly all have played what we are told (by string/brane theorists themselves) is "the only game in town." But after three decades of glowing hype, this "game"--superstrings/'M-theory'/'brane-world'--has failed to move forward. It has essentially demonstrated that it cannot move forward in any scientific sense.

"Superstring theory is to a large degree thought of by mainstream physicists as mathematics and by mainstream mathematicians as physics, with each group convinced that it makes no sense within their frame of reference but presumably does within someone else's." pg 204

Like so many other armchair theorists, I've read and enjoyed books like Greene's `Elegant Universe' and Hawking's glossy `Universe in a Nutshell'. But any astute reader has to notice that no real connection is made between what we are told are compellingly "beautiful mathematics" and the physical world we can examine, and, given a sound theory, even interrogate, to any degree at all. It is particularly instructive to consider strings/ brane-world from the critical perspective of pure mathematics, i.e., Woit's perspective in this volume. It seems that the abstract equations ARE strangely "beautiful" UNTIL the math must be patched to conform to a universe with precisely three large spatial dimensions; as soon as we are forced to manipulate the additional dimensions, the beauty of the mathematics begins to fade. That `beauty' has been fading for 20 years at this writing. Woit finds the equations of strings/branes to be growing uglier at every turn. After decades of contortion, strings/branes are ever becoming less beautiful than advertised. And, as Woit briefly explains with stark, non-glossy frankness, strings/branes are NOT the only game in town, or at least they shouldn't be.

Many mathematicians would cautiously agree that strings/branes make for interesting mathematics--if they can be divorced from physics. There may be sufficient cause to suggest, as some have, that strings/branes make for interesting theology as well. But are strings/branes SCIENCE? At this late date it seems that the answer is probably `no'.

"If someone could come up with a legitimate, distinctive, testable prediction of string theory that gave even the correct order of magnitude for some experimental result, that would be a huge breakthrough."

As I have suggested to anyone willing to listen, read Peter Woit's thought-provoking book, especially if you've read Greene, Hawking, and/or Susskind.

Right on the button.......2007-08-30

What can I say? Like Peter Woit, I am a recovering mathematician, and this book has given me hope. "Not Even Wrong" carries my highest recommendation, especially for those empirically-inclined investigators who have become demotivated by the crisis in science. One proviso, though - don't read it in isolation. Essential companions are Lee Smolin's "The Trouble with Physics", and my own impassioned plea "The Virtue of Heresy - Confessions of a Dissident Astronomer". The Virtue of Heresy: Confessions of a Dissident Astronomer

Hilton Ratcliffe
Astrophysicist

contains interesting information on physics as well as criticism of String Theory.......2007-07-11

As most people know Not Even Wrong is critical of String Theory. What I did not realize going into the book was the detail it delves into in describing events leading up to String Theory, especially events having to do with the Standard Model. I think the book is worth reading just for this information which spans half of the book. I don't know whether String Theory is right or not as I am not a physicist but I do believe that criticism is a healthy thing and that the author is clear in his criticism of String Theory. I would have wished for more information on other Unified Theories but he devotes only one chapter to this. I guess, as the author points out, there is only one game in town and it is String Theory.

A Good Proposal for Using Government Funds More Effectively.......2007-06-23

Woit's book will be very helpful to technical people who do not work daily in the field of physics but want to remain up to date on the progress of this field. Woit's conclusions and recommendations will be widely accepted. Interestingly, in my book review of Leonard Susskind's book on The Cosmic Landscape in December 2005, I said, "I hold hopes for physicists but not much for strings." I made this statement because the length of a string is divisible and cannot be modeled by a zero-point. So, string theory was completely wrong on day one.

Woit gave me a clear view of the histories of particle physics, strings, and the standard model. In Ch. 6, my mind became glued to the Yang-Mills theory and the new behavior named `asymptotic freedom.' This new behavior is consistent with other theories: (1) the infinite gap that separates a creator God from the universe; (2) the Riemann hypothesis on prime numbers; (3) the true atoms (Leibniz's monads); (4) Cantor's transfinite number; (5) and the origin of inertia of Bernard Haisch (see `The God Theory). So, Woit is right. It is time for physicists to return to basics and The Standard Model. But, they might also consider the reality of an active God.

Simulation Modeling and Analysis (Industrial Engineering and Management Science Series)

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It was a good deal too
A timeless reference
Read it if you need to write your first simulation program
Bible for Simulation
Better understanding, rather than point and click

Simulation Modeling and Analysis (Industrial Engineering and Management Science Series)
Averill Law , and W. David Kelton
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0070592926

Book Description

This authoritative, comprehensive, and thoroughly up-to-date guide addresses all the important aspects of a simulation study, including modeling, simulation languages, validation, input probability distribution, and analysis of simulation output data. Full scale treatments of manufacturing systems simulation and simulation software and animation are also included along with useful and instructive case studies.

Customer Reviews:

It was a good deal too.......2007-08-16

The Book was in good shape. It was a good deal too

thank you

A timeless reference.......2006-11-30

I won't repeat what the others have said. I will just say it is an excellent book. I first purchased the book in 1987 for a college class. Unlike most other computer books I've purchased through the years, this book is as valuable a reference today as it was in 1987. In fact, I refer to it so often (and lend it out so often) I have two copies, one in my home library and one on my quick reference shelf (right next to the dictionary) in the office. In my opinion, if one is serious about understanding simulations and computer modeling for analysis purposes this is a must have reference.

Read it if you need to write your first simulation program.......2004-06-21

Before reading this book I didn't have a clue about simulation modeling, but after reading the first few chapters I was able to write my first simulation program in C++. Although authors use C language and global data for simulation state, you can easily apply the concept of simulation state to any object-oriented language and replace global simulation state with object state.

Bible for Simulation.......2001-12-28

There are other books for giving you the simulation techniques and languages but to know the theory and statistics of simulation this is THE book.It startes with basics of statisstics and deals everthing you need to know about simulation. At some point you will start wondering how the authors could give so much information in just one book and lose lots of royalty money on the succeeding books.

Better understanding, rather than point and click.......2001-02-06

This book is the ground foundation of simulation modeling. Currently, only few books in simulation will spend pages and time, dedicated to the theoretical issues as good as this book. If you're tired of point-and-click or "how-to making one server queueing system" and you want to know the fundamental of simulation, you can't overlook this piece of jewel. I don't agree with one review that you have to understand statistics in order to get this book. Simulation is a probabilistic model. Using simulation without understanding statistics results in serious trouble since it will be only a toy (data), not a tool (information.

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Apppropriative Rights Model Water Code
Joseph W. Dellapenna
Manufacturer: American Society of Civil Engineers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0784408874
Release Date: 2007-01-15

Product Description

Appropriative Rights Model Water Code provides a model of a coherent body of law that can be utilized to improve existing water allocation laws. Appropriative rights takes its name from the legal requirement that water be appropriated and applied to a beneficial use in order for one to acquire the right to use it. Today, appropriative rights remain in the predominant body of law for the quantitative allocation of water in the 18 States west of Kansas City. This committee report originated from a detailed review of existing water allocation laws in these states. A hydrologically-based legal framework that balances human and environmental needs, Appropriative Rights Model Water Code provides integrates the management of water quality and water quantity, and takes into consideration the appropriate social, economical, political, and administrative aspects of water management. This committee report is the first coherent and comprehensive model that legislatures can consider as a basis for creating a standardized water code for all the states. Notably, the book is presented in menu style, and can be used in whole or in part as deemed appropriate by a given legislature.

Cost Proxy Models and Telecommunications Policy: A New Empirical Approach to Regulation (Regulation of Economic Activity)

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Cost Proxy Models and Telecommunications Policy: A New Empirical Approach to Regulation (Regulation of Economic Activity)
Farid Gasmi , D. Mark Kennet , William W. Sharkey , and Jean-Jacques Laffont
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0262072378

Book Description

The telecommunications industry defies easy characterization. The long-distance sector is highly competitive and the local exchange sector much less so, while digital transmission and switching have blurred the distinction between traditional voice communication and the transmission of video and data messages. Regulation of this industry has generally been considered necessary because it has aspects of a natural monopoly.

This book takes an empirical approach to natural monopoly and the need for regulation of telecommunications. The centerpiece of the analysis is a sophisticated engineering cost proxy model, the local exchange cost optimization model (LECOM). The book, which is largely methodological, shows that a combination of LECOM, econometrics, and simulations can aid policy discussion of such contentious issues as incentive regulation, natural monopolies, estimating the cost of interconnection among networks, and the obligation of universal service. The book presents a theoretical framework to explain the incentives of firms and the power of regulation and then uses LECOM to test the theoretical implications. The work is unusual in that it applies the foundations of regulation theory to a model of an industry rather than applying econometric theory to historical cost data. The book includes a CD-ROM containing the data set the authors used to analyze their model.

Laws And Models: Engineering and Technology

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Laws And Models: Engineering and Technology
Carl W. Hall
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0849320186

Book Description

The "laws" that govern our physical universe come in many guises-as principles, theorems, canons, equations, axioms, models, and so forth. They may be empirical, statistical, or theoretical, their names may reflect the person who first expressed them, the person who publicized them, or they might simply describe a phenomenon. However they may be named, the discovery and application of physical laws have formed the backbone of the sciences for 3,000 years. They exist by thousands. Laws and Models: Science, Engineering, and Technology-the fruit of almost 40 years of collection and research-compiles more than 1,200 of the laws and models most frequently encountered and used by engineers and technologists. The result is a collection as fascinating as it is useful. Each entry consists of a statement of the law or model, its date of origin, a one-line biography of the people involved in its formulation, sources of information about the law, and cross-references. Illustrated and highly readable, this book offers a unique presentation of the vast and rich collection of laws that rule our universe. Everyone with an interest in the inner workings of nature-from engineers to students, from teachers to journalists-will find Laws and Models to be not only a handy reference, but an engaging volume to read and browse.

Scaling Analysis in Modeling Transport and Reaction Processes: A Systematic Approach to Model Building and the Art of Approximation

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Scaling Analysis in Modeling Transport and Reaction Processes: A Systematic Approach to Model Building and the Art of Approximation
William B. Krantz
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471772615

Book Description

This book is unique as the first effort to expound on the subject of systematic scaling analysis. Not written for a specific discipline, the book targets any reader interested in transport phenomena and reaction processes. The book is logically divided into chapters on the use of systematic scaling analysis in fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction processes. An integrating chapter is included that considers more complex problems involving combined transport phenomena. Each chapter includes several problems that are explained in considerable detail. These are followed by several worked examples for which the general outline for the scaling is given. Each chapter also includes many practice problems.

Book Description

DRAG (from un modele de la Demande Routiere, des Accidents et leur Gravite) is a complex computer model that simulates accident propensities under detailed conditions. The DRAG approach constitutes the largest road accident modelling effort ever undertaken. Gaudry is the creator and developer of DRAG and this work explains its nature, purpose and value. Such a model, which explains accidents for a whole region, province or country, has advantages in answering many questions asked about accidents (such as the role of the economic cycle, weather, prices, insurance etc.) that other models fail to take fully into account.

DRAG research is underpinned by a fundamental theoretical innovation which sees a 3-level approach to analysing the determinants of the number of road victims in a given accident: Exposure (the distance travelled), Accident Frequency Risk and Accident Severity Risk (i.e. the number of victims of each type of accident). In applying flexible mathematical forms, the DRAG model also allows significant conceptual and empirical claims to be made about the importance of detecting responses that reverse themselves (to alcohol, and to other factors).

Under Gaudry's guidance, a family of DRAG-inspired models has grown up, based on their development for different countries and this book explores each national model in turn. As more countries seek to adopt the DRAG approach, this book serves as a timely, unique and valuable guide to the model.

Unified Constitutive Laws of Plastic Deformation

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Unified Constitutive Laws of Plastic Deformation

Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0124259707

Book Description

High-technology industries using plastic deformation demand soundly-based economical decisions in manufacturing design and product testing, and the unified constitutive laws of plastic deformation give researchers aguideline to use in making these decisions. This book provides extensive guidance in low cost manufacturing without the loss of product quality. Each highly detailed chapter of Unified Constitutive Laws of Plastic Deformation focuses on a distinct set of defining equations. Topics covered include anisotropic and viscoplastic flow, and the overall kinetics and thermodynamics of deformation. This important book deals with a prime topic in materials science and engineering, and will be of great use toboth researchers and graduate students.

Key Features
* Describes the theory and applications of the constitutive law of plastic deformation for materials testing
* Examines the constitutive law of plastic deformation as it applies to process and product design
* Includes a program on disk for the determination and development of the constitutive law of plastic deformation
* Considers economical design and testing methods

Evaluation of rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids in internal mixers: an alternative method based on the power law model.: An article from: Polymer Engineering and Science

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Evaluation of rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids in internal mixers: an alternative method based on the power law model.: An article from: Polymer Engineering and Science
J. Guillen Mallette , and R. Rios Soberanis
Manufacturer: Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Polymer Engineering and Science, published by Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. on September 1, 1998. The length of the article is 4084 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: A new method was developed to evaluate rheological properties of polymer melts such as shear stress, shear rate, apparent viscosity and other rheological parameters in internal mixers. It is based on the classical power law model where the power law index n is directly evaluated from a set of data containing speed S, torque M, and the consistency index m is indirectly determined by an empirical relation. The method is based on a model with only one geometrical parameter ([Alpha]), which involves a chamber radius [R.sub.2] and an equivalent radius [R.sub.e]. It is assumed that the measuring head consists of two adjacent sets of coaxial cylinders. This method has advantages over previously reported models that use two parameters and do not propose a straightforward method to evaluate m. The pseudoplastic nature of the polymer melt decreases as the rate of loss of structural points, i.e., molecular entanglements and network junctions, increases, which produces greater mobility of the melt. A relationship between [Alpha] and C(n) is found, which is simpler than other models previously reported. These results further demonstrate the feasibility of evaluating rheological properties of polymer melts in internal mixers.

Citation Details
Title: Evaluation of rheological properties of non-Newtonian fluids in internal mixers: an alternative method based on the power law model.
Author: J. Guillen Mallette
Publication: Polymer Engineering and Science (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 1998
Publisher: Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.
Volume: v38 Issue: n9 Page: p1436(7)

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