A defence of string theory

Abstract

String theory has been very influential within theoretical physics for the past few decades. It is the most popular attempt to solve the problem of formulating a viable theory of quantum gravity. Furthermore, it also unifies the other fundamental forces within one theoretical framework. In string theory, it is assumed that what before was thought to be point particles should really be seen as one-dimensional extended entities, i.e. strings. Different particles are supposed to correspond to various vibrational patterns of the strings. In recent years, much critique has been directed towards string theory, and the fact that it inhabits such a strong position within the theoretical physics community. The main complaint is the complete lack of empirical confirmation of new predictions derived from string theory. The books, criticizing string theory, that have received most attention are the ones written by Smolin (2006), Woit (2006), but there are many more critics some of which express much harsher criticism towards string theory than the above-mentioned authors. Richard Dawid opposes this negative evaluation of string theory in his book String Theory and the Scientific Method. In this book, it is argued that string theory in important ways has contributed to a change in how many theoretical physicists view scientific method. And Dawid argues that this new attitude towards scientific method is rational and should not be discounted. He points out that the attitude towards string theory differs wildly between its critics and defenders. He argues that this is due to an important difference in attitude towards what constitutes good scientific method. Dawid goes as far as using the term ‘‘meta-paradigmatic shift’’ to describe the situation. Critics of string theory are supposed to be embracing what Dawid calls ‘‘the classical paradigm of theory assessment’’. These critics think that the only way a scientific theory rightfully deserves to be trusted, and become part of