Physics has made a lot of progress in social justice and representation and these kinds of comments putting down "her point of view" is the type of toxic masculinity that will send us back 100 years.
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Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
31–40 of 326 posts
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#32I dare say the author is right on many points but statements like: "But for all I can tell at this moment in history I am the only physicist who has at least come up with an idea for what to do." make it hard for me to share her point of view, especially as these ideas are not mentioned.
I'm not sure how you missed it, but she did give a recommendation. Attempt to resolve inconsistencies as a means of discovery.
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#33Actually, string theory arose as a way of doing exactly what this person requests. It was noticed that quantum field theory and gravity do not go together, so it was attempted to do something about this. So, it did not really work out? Well, you know the thing with this kind science is that it is unknowable beforehand what you are or are not going to find.
Point was, math is one thing, reality is another.
From an outsider's point of view (i.e. mine) it looks like physics has become too enamored with mathematics, "thinking" that reality can be totally described by mathematics. Which brings us to one of the author's point of views, the fact that physicists (and I guess most scientists) nowadays dismiss things like philosophy of science or epistemology, they just continue head-on on their "quest for knowledge" not realizing that for almost half a century now nothing big has been "found out".
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#34I've read several of Sabine's blogs over several months. I think she has very good ends in mind, has courage to push back on corporate/academic inertia ... such inertia comes with any human organization ... On the negative side she's big on complaining but small on alternatives. She's also a bit too blunt/dismissive of people -- this from a person who also dislikes corporate happy talk. As such it's not clear if she'…
Aye, it’s easy to make criticisms (and Zeus knows the price of good science is eternal vigilance), but the easiest and most satisfyingly Ockhamite explanation of the slowdown in physics remains: all its low-hanging fruit is long since taken.
And while there’s no harm in pondering the philosophical origins of the scientific method while debating where to go next, we should take care not to go backwards either, as that way lies fractal navel fluff and bloody string theory.
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#35In the spirit of pointing out inconsistencies...I am not a physicist, but something I've been confused about lately is why the action constant has a unit of seconds baked into it.
Feels like E = hf is an experiment with a hard coded 1 second measure time.
Why not express the relationship in terms of power?
P=uf where u is the action constant without the seconds unit hard coded. And E=utf has a variable time parameter
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#36I don’t get it. What does she want people to do?
Realizing that they're on bad path could be a first step in the right direction. Nothing big not having been "discovered" for 40 years probably means that the problems are structural.
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#37Good essay. Yes, the sociology and politics of the way we do science is overtaking the reproducible learning aspect. Foundations for many things, like physics, are as solid as necessary for doing a lot of work, but by the time you get to the point where you should be testing, rearranging, and ferreting out flaws in the foundations, you're so indoctrinated into a culture that you don't have the mental tools necessary…
Stagnant? Or just mature, like a fine cheese and wine?
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#38Perhaps we need some new mathematics, not new physics
I think setting AI on it may be the way forward.
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#39I dare say the author is right on many points but statements like: "But for all I can tell at this moment in history I am the only physicist who has at least come up with an idea for what to do." make it hard for me to share her point of view, especially as these ideas are not mentioned.
She provides one of her ideas immediately prior to that quote:
”I have said many times that looking at the history of physics teaches us that resolving inconsistencies has been a reliable path to breakthroughs, so that’s what we should focus on."
And given that she has written at least one book on this general subject, I would guess that idea is elaborated in much greater detail there or on her blog.
Re: Why the foundations of physics have not progressed for 40 years
#40Physics has made a lot of progress in social justice and representation and these kinds of comments putting down "her point of view" is the type of toxic masculinity that will send us back 100 years.
I don’t think physics operates on anything resembling a social-justice system - nothing like the parent comment is going to send us backwards any amount of time in the field, but an attitude that bars commentary might stagnate us for a long time.
>I don’t think physics operates on anything resembling a social-justice system
Physicists are chosen within the Academic-Governmental Complex, and as such physicists are chosen according to its preferences. Maybe this is a big problem? It's not just with respect to selection based on gender, race or socioeconomics. Have you read Paul Graham's Lesson to Unlearn, about the adverse incentives and maligned merits which academia chooses for: http://www.paulgraham.com/lesson.html
Personally, I just hate it when people praise Academia (I see it often with Wall Steeet, too) as being a shining example of social justice like its some gift-wrapped paper around a rotten core.
>an attitude that bars commentary might stagnate us for a long time.
I agree. Now watch comments such as these incite downvotes and inflammatory responses because they question assumptions and make people feel uncomfortable.