M Theory - The Theory of Everything

The problem with string theory is that it is theoretical, not empirical. The thing that keeps science from going down the same rabbit hole as philosophy and religion is that science is able to test its hypotheses. When it comes to string theory, science is pretty much on the same ground as philosophy.
 
BornReady said:
The problem with string theory is that it is theoretical, not empirical. The thing that keeps science from going down the same rabbit hole as philosophy and religion is that science is able to test its hypotheses. When it comes to string theory, science is pretty much on the same ground as philosophy.
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It's more concrete than philosophy, you have to remember this is all based on the mathematics that govern the universe. Mathematics that are the only known universal truth. It's not simply an idea, the mathematical models work out perfectly and tests are being devised. What do you think one of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN's purposes is?

Hypothesis are being tested as we speak. The plan is to create a new universe in a laboratory, and I have little doubt that this will be achieved.

This is well beyond philosophy.
 
I watched the clip you posted but I formed my opinion based on another string theory video I saw a few years ago. The video showed different physicists arguing their pet hypothesis. It was all mathematics. No one could devise a test to separate the hypotheses. It basically came down to... is so... is not... is so... is not. But, in truth, I don't know much about string theory. That was just my impression.
 
BornReady said:
I watched the clip you posted but I formed my opinion based on another string theory video I saw a few years ago. The video showed different physicists arguing their pet hypothesis. It was all mathematics. No one could devise a test to separate the hypotheses. It basically came down to... is so... is not... is so... is not. But, in truth, I don't know much about string theory. That was just my impression.
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Did you watch all 5 parts? They go into the problems and disagreements they had in the past, and how a small discovery unified both parties.
 
BTW, I'm shocked at how few people have been into this thread.

Come on people, the unifying theory talked about here is THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING!! Not just mumbo jumbo spouted in the Bible, but actual, quanitifiable explanations of our very existence!!!
 
I think people, myself included, sometimes find it easier to have a discussion about religion, which is universal and fairly easy to grasp, than about a scientific subject that (appears to) require at least some scientific knowledge.

It sounds like a really interesting topic but I know I can't really add to a discussion - I've tried the String Theory Simplified link even and although it's not exactly beyond me, I don't want to try and form an opinion when I'm so horribly uneducated on the matter at the moment :)
 
HK said:
I think people, myself included, sometimes find it easier to have a discussion about religion, which is universal and fairly easy to grasp, than about a scientific subject that (appears to) require at least some scientific knowledge.

It sounds like a really interesting topic but I know I can't really add to a discussion - I've tried the String Theory Simplified link even and although it's not exactly beyond me, I don't want to try and form an opinion when I'm so horribly uneducated on the matter at the moment :)
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It's very true, some of the concepts that are talked about are pretty crazy... especially the far-out theoretical physics side of things...

Watch the video at the top of the post and the following 4 (it's a five part thing) - it's explained in terms the layman can understand!
 
edgray said:
It's very true, some of the concepts that are talked about are pretty crazy... especially the far-out theoretical physics side of things...

Watch the video at the top of the post and the following 4 (it's a five part thing) - it's explained in terms the layman can understand!
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I watched all 5 parts. Most interesting because science IS working on this and respected people in the field of physics and cosmology are involved. The concept of the multiverse is amazing!
 
Minor Axis said:
I watched all 5 parts. Most interesting because science IS working on this and respected people in the field of physics and cosmology are involved. The concept of the multiverse is amazing!
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They're really interesting, aren't they? Especially the closing moments of the show: the idea that they're working on creating a universe in a laboratory is just mind blowing!
 
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