http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/ a celebration of science fiction, anime, and geek culture Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:58:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1138 Quorlox Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:01:29 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1138 And I wouldn't mind if they admitted it was more metaphysics than science, but string theorists don't. If hardcore physicists give up experiments, how are we going to convince the softer sciences that experimental rigor is important? And I wouldn’t mind if they admitted it was more metaphysics than science, but string theorists don’t. If hardcore physicists give up experiments, how are we going to convince the softer sciences that experimental rigor is important?

]]> http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1131 fledgling otaku Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:33:39 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1131 I think that there are definite limitations to any theory even with empirical testability. Without it, the theory is equivalent to metaphysics as far as I am concerned. I think that there are definite limitations to any theory even with empirical testability. Without it, the theory is equivalent to metaphysics as far as I am concerned.

]]> http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1130 Quorlox Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:50:54 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2007/10/07/parallel-universes-science-and-fiction/#comment-1130 I recently read a disturbing editorial in Nature or Science that said many string theorists are beginning to believe that theory is enough. Experiments are not needed to prove their theories as long as the mathematical proof is elegant enough. The author was worried that faced with the reality that string theory has yet to really provide a testable hypothesis, string theorists have opted to ignore the possibility that they might be wrong in favor of the "experiments aren't needed" explanation. I recently read a disturbing editorial in Nature or Science that said many string theorists are beginning to believe that theory is enough. Experiments are not needed to prove their theories as long as the mathematical proof is elegant enough. The author was worried that faced with the reality that string theory has yet to really provide a testable hypothesis, string theorists have opted to ignore the possibility that they might be wrong in favor of the “experiments aren’t needed” explanation.

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