- #1
ledjazz
- 2
- 0
Dear physicists,
Please forgive my naive and general question but I have a something in mind that I would like to answer...
String theorists say something like:
"Although string theory cannot be tested, the mathematical beauty coming from this theory is such that it is very convincing and makes us think that we are on the right direction towards the explanation of the universe with one single theory".
So, my question is quite simple: How can string theorists be sure that their mathematical models are correct?
I do not know so much about the mathematical aspects behind string theory and theoretical physics in general. All I understand from my non-specialist perspective of a civil engineer is that string theorists have successfully responded to the deepest theoretical question of physics (the unification of quantum theory and gravity in one single theory) by developing mathematical tools that require extra dimensions in addition to the known 3+1 dimensions. One implication of this theory is that we are stuck in this 4-D "reality" so that we might never have the possibility of actually seeing the other dimensions, be they at macro scale.
But, if we accept the idea that our perception of a universe with 4 dimensions is not correct, how can the mathematical methods used to explain string theory be correct if they originally come from a wrong description of this 4D reality? I make here the assumption that there has been an evolution in mathematical methods so that the methods used today in string theory have their roots in our old Aristotelean/Cartesian description of the universe.
Maybe it will appear as an unclear or a non-sense question to some of you. I hope not.
Maybe it is only something that a non-specialist cannot understand. If so, don't be embarrassed if you provide a very technical response. I will take the time necessary to understand it.
Thanks in advance.
Francois
Please forgive my naive and general question but I have a something in mind that I would like to answer...
String theorists say something like:
"Although string theory cannot be tested, the mathematical beauty coming from this theory is such that it is very convincing and makes us think that we are on the right direction towards the explanation of the universe with one single theory".
So, my question is quite simple: How can string theorists be sure that their mathematical models are correct?
I do not know so much about the mathematical aspects behind string theory and theoretical physics in general. All I understand from my non-specialist perspective of a civil engineer is that string theorists have successfully responded to the deepest theoretical question of physics (the unification of quantum theory and gravity in one single theory) by developing mathematical tools that require extra dimensions in addition to the known 3+1 dimensions. One implication of this theory is that we are stuck in this 4-D "reality" so that we might never have the possibility of actually seeing the other dimensions, be they at macro scale.
But, if we accept the idea that our perception of a universe with 4 dimensions is not correct, how can the mathematical methods used to explain string theory be correct if they originally come from a wrong description of this 4D reality? I make here the assumption that there has been an evolution in mathematical methods so that the methods used today in string theory have their roots in our old Aristotelean/Cartesian description of the universe.
Maybe it will appear as an unclear or a non-sense question to some of you. I hope not.
Maybe it is only something that a non-specialist cannot understand. If so, don't be embarrassed if you provide a very technical response. I will take the time necessary to understand it.
Thanks in advance.
Francois