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arXiv:1609.01966physics.hist-ph

The dangers of non-empirical confirmation

Carlo Rovelli

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Abstract

In the book "String Theory and the Scientific Method", Richard Dawid describes a few of the many non-empirical arguments that motivate theoretical physicists' confidence in a theory, taking string theory as case study. I argue that excessive reliance on non-empirical evidence compromises the reliability of science, and that precisely the case of string theory well illustrates this danger.

arXiv comments
2 pages. Contribution to the meeting "Why Trust a Theory? Reconsidering Scientific Methodology in Light of Modern Physics," Munich, Dec. 7-9, 2015
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
physics.hist-phHistory and Philosophy of Physics gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

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Linked by 1 identifiable commenter in 1 comment across 1 thread, from Jun 2017 to Jun 2017. Found in 2 HN submissions from Sep 2016 to Aug 2022. Open submission discussions.

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  1. The Dangerous Irrelevance of String Theory 1 comment

    • "The tyranny of verificationism impedes scientific progress. Let string theorists do their thing/string." This is a very dangerous path. Science without empiricism is religion. https://arxiv.org/pdf/1609.01966.pdf

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