String theory and general methodology: a mutual evaluation

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2011.06.004zbMATH Open1239.81058arXiv0912.3160OpenAlexW3123214512MaRDI QIDQ426019FDOQ426019

Authors: Lars-Göran Johansson, Keizo Matsubara 

Publication date: 10 June 2012

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: String theory has been the dominating research field in theoretical physics during the last decades. Despite the considerable time elapse, no new testable predictions have been derived by string theorists and it is understandable that doubts have been voiced. Some people have argued that it is time to give up since testability is wanting. But the majority has not been convinced and they continue to believe that string theory is the right way to go. This situation is interesting for philosophy of science since it highligts several of our central issues. In this paper we will discuss string theory from a number of different perspectives in general methodology. We will also relate the realism/antirealism debate to the current status of string theory. Our goal is two-fold; both to take a look at string theory from philosophical perspectives and to use string theory as a test case for some philosophical issues.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0912.3160

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zbMATH Keywords

string theorynaturalismgeneral methodologynorms for theory choicerealism/antirealism

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory (81T30)

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Cited In (9)

• STRING THEORY, THE CRISIS IN PARTICLE PHYSICS AND THE ASCENT OF METAPHORIC ARGUMENTS
• Mirror symmetry and other miracles in superstring theory
• Doubts for Dawid's non-empirical theory assessment
• Early string theory as a challenging case study for philosophers
• The role of heuristic appraisal in conflicting assessments of string theory
• String theory, non-empirical theory assessment, and the context of pursuit
• From a boson to the standard model Higgs: a case study in confirmation and model dynamics
• On miracles and spacetime
• Spacetime and physical equivalence

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