Well, Lee does promote a reasonable alternative, Loop Quantum Gravity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_quantum_gravity
More on Lee: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/bios/smolin.html http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Smolin -- Owen Owen Densmore http://backspaces.net - http://redfish.com - http://friam.org On Jul 18, 2006, at 10:30 AM, Jochen Fromm wrote: > > Although I agree that string theory cannot be the final > solution, I would have expected more from Smolin. It is > too easy to bash others. That's what politicians do: > constantly blaming others instead of suggesting better > solutions. Where is his theory of quantum gravity ? > His theory of "cosmic evolution" (proposed in "the life > of the cosmos") is not testable, either. > > To explain everything, one has to start with nothing > (see Russell's new book), and show how everything > appears or emerge out of nothing. If you start with > strings, that one may ask where the strings come > from, what they are made of, why they live in 26 > dimensions, and why they interact in the way they do. > I think the most important ingredient for a "Theory > of Everything" is still good old evolution. > > -J. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf > Of Owen Densmore > Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:02 PM > To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group > Subject: Re: [FRIAM] String-bashing > > Not yet published, but Lee Smolin has finally had enough with String > Theory as well: > > Amazon.com: The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The > Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next: Books: Lee Smolin > > http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618551050/104-7070581-5619133? > v=glance > > In this groundbreaking book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee > Smolin argues that physics-the basis for all other science-has lost > its way. The problem is string theory, an ambitious attempt to > formulate "a theory of everything" that explains all the forces and > particles of nature and how the universe came to be. With its exotic > new particles and parallel universes, string theory has captured the > public"s imagination and seduced many physicists. But as Smolin > reveals, there"s a deep flaw in the theory: no part of it has been > proven, and no one knows how to prove it. As a scientific theory, it > has been a colossal failure. And because it has soaked up the lion's > share of funding, attracted some of the best minds, and penalized > young physicists for pursuing other avenues, it is dragging the rest > of physics down with it. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin > charts the rise and fall of string theory and takes a fascinating > look at what will replace it. A group of young theorists has begun to > develop exciting new ideas that are, unlike string theory, testable. > Smolin tells us who and what to watch for in the coming years and how > we can find the next Einstein. This is a wake-up call, and Lee Smolin- > a former string theorist himself- is the perfect person to deliver it. > > -- Owen > > Owen Densmore > http://backspaces.net - http://redfish.com - http://friam.org > > > On Jun 24, 2006, at 8:07 AM, Robert Holmes wrote: > >> Here's a fun string-bashing article: >> http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articleArchive/jun2006/notevenwrong.php >> >> It makes a couple of serious points though. What I found worrying >> was the >> claim (for which the author provides some limited evidence) that it >> is now >> impossible to get on in physics academia unless you drink the >> string theory >> kool-aid. Whither (or should that be wither) academic freeedom? >> >> Robert >> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
