In this illuminating book, the renowned theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the search for the laws of nature -- losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public’s imagination -- and the imagination of experts. But these ideas have not been tested experimentally, and some, like string theory, seem to offer no possibility of being tested. Yet these speculations dominate the field, attracting the best talent and much of the funding and creating a climate in which emerging physicists are often penalized for pursuing other avenues. As Smolin points out, the situation threatens to impede the very progress of science. With clarity, passion, and authority, Smolin offers an unblinking assessment of the troubles that face modern physics -- and an encouraging view of where the search for the next big idea may lead.
yep.
The science of today is an attempt to use the scientific method to prove “uncertainty”. Nevermind their need for logic/certainty in their efforts.
“...theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics — the search for the laws of nature — losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes,...”
I talked with him for about 30 minutes several years ago about his idea that there were multiple universes that evolved and that this would explain a universe seemingly designed for humans. Basically, the idea was that black holes are the birth place of new universes and that they pass their fundamental constants on to the baby universe. However, the constants can be slightly modified during the transition. Since stars make black holes, he argued that the “multiverse” (my word not his) selects for universes that produce a lot of stars because they will have a lot of baby universes. To have a lot of stars requires fundamental constants as in our universe. QED.
Of course it’s like life. You have to get to the first self-replicating molecule for evolution to start working. In universes, you’d have to get to the universe that has the first star.
It sounds like his thinking has evolved since then.