Comments on: More Scenes From the Storm in a Teacup, I http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:43:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Masterclass - Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-7323 Masterclass - Asymptotia Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:22:56 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-7323 [...] You’ve possibly been following my efforts over here to discuss and explain the several weaknesses in Smolin’s and Woit’s arguments and positions, and why the current “string debate” is all an overblown (and media-fueled) fake controversy. (See for example the series of posts entitled “More Scenes From the Storm in a Teacup” (I, II, III, IV, V, VI; use the search engine for other instances.) [...] [...] You’ve possibly been following my efforts over here to discuss and explain the several weaknesses in Smolin’s and Woit’s arguments and positions, and why the current “string debate” is all an overblown (and media-fueled) fake controversy. (See for example the series of posts entitled “More Scenes From the Storm in a Teacup” (I, II, III, IV, V, VI; use the search engine for other instances.) [...]

]]> By: Guest Blogger: Joe Polchinski on the String Debates | Cosmic Variance http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-7308 Guest Blogger: Joe Polchinski on the String Debates | Cosmic Variance Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:32:16 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-7308 [...] You may have read here and there about the genteel discussions concerning the status of string theory within contemporary theoretical physics. We’ve discussed it on CV here, here, and even way back here, and Clifford has hosted a multipart discussion at Asymptotia (I, II, III, IV, V, VI). [...] [...] You may have read here and there about the genteel discussions concerning the status of string theory within contemporary theoretical physics. We’ve discussed it on CV here, here, and even way back here, and Clifford has hosted a multipart discussion at Asymptotia (I, II, III, IV, V, VI). [...]

]]> By: More Scenes From the Storm in a Teacup, II - Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-1636 More Scenes From the Storm in a Teacup, II - Asymptotia Fri, 06 Oct 2006 01:24:08 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-1636 [...] Overall, this storm in a teacup -which will continue, because the media only wants to hear an “underdog” story right now, whether or not it reflects what is going on in the research itself- is simply poisoning the well for everyone, whether they do string theory or not. See here. [...] [...] Overall, this storm in a teacup -which will continue, because the media only wants to hear an “underdog” story right now, whether or not it reflects what is going on in the research itself- is simply poisoning the well for everyone, whether they do string theory or not. See here. [...]

]]> By: Peter Woit http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-502 Peter Woit Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:14:54 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-502 Amanda, Are you insinuating that Aaron was engaging in innuendo in his criticism of my book, rather than making his criticisms explicit? Actually I thought Aaron's review was quite reasonable, it's the kind of reaction to the book and to my arguments against string theory that I was always expecting from serious string theorists and that I'm happy to discuss further with them. As for the orignal arxiv posting, I'll just point out that it in no way criticized anyone in particular, explicitly or implicitly. The kind of material in the book about the Bogdanovs, Capra, Hagelin that Aaron objected to made no appearance at all in arxiv article. That article made no personal attacks on anyone or on any group, it basically just made a scientific argument that string-theory based unification had failed, and a sociological argument that the heavy dominance of particle theory by string theory was unhealthy. I certainly was aware that some people would be offended by my claims that their research program had failed and deserved less support than it was getting. But as far as I know there is no speech code in the physics community that makes it unacceptable to ever offend anyone by criticizing their scientific ideas. I was not "starting a fight", I was making an argument and hoping to encourage discussion. I had been making the same arguments privately for many years, often in personal discussions with string theorists, and had never had any troubles having a civil discussion on these topics. Quite often I found that even string theorists agreed with a lot of what I was saying. The personal attacks, unprofessional and unethical behavior that I've experienced from a small number of people in recent years has been a bit of a surprise. By now I'm kind of used to it, and take comfort in the fact that the people who do this seem to be doing a good job of damaging their own cause. Amanda,

Are you insinuating that Aaron was engaging in innuendo in his criticism of my book, rather than making his criticisms explicit?

Actually I thought Aaron’s review was quite reasonable, it’s the kind of reaction to the book and to my arguments against string theory that I was always expecting from serious string theorists and that I’m happy to discuss further with them.

As for the orignal arxiv posting, I’ll just point out that it in no way criticized anyone in particular, explicitly or implicitly. The kind of material in the book about the Bogdanovs, Capra, Hagelin that Aaron objected to made no appearance at all in arxiv article. That article made no personal attacks on anyone or on any group, it basically just made a scientific argument that string-theory based unification had failed, and a sociological argument that the heavy dominance of particle theory by string theory was unhealthy.

I certainly was aware that some people would be offended by my claims that their research program had failed and deserved less support than it was getting. But as far as I know there is no speech code in the physics community that makes it unacceptable to ever offend anyone by criticizing their scientific ideas. I was not “starting a fight”, I was making an argument and hoping to encourage discussion. I had been making the same arguments privately for many years, often in personal discussions with string theorists, and had never had any troubles having a civil discussion on these topics. Quite often I found that even string theorists agreed with a lot of what I was saying. The personal attacks, unprofessional and unethical behavior that I’ve experienced from a small number of people in recent years has been a bit of a surprise. By now I’m kind of used to it, and take comfort in the fact that the people who do this seem to be doing a good job of damaging their own cause.

]]> By: amanda http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-483 amanda Tue, 22 Aug 2006 01:22:02 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-483 One of the best things about AB's review is the way he handled the "innuendo" bit; though I think he might have been a bit more explicit. The sad thing about PW is that he [I think] genuinely never understood how offensive his original broadside on the arxiv was; he really doesn't seem to understand that it was he who started this fight. One of the best things about AB’s review is the way he handled the “innuendo” bit; though I think he might have been a bit more explicit. The sad thing about PW is that he [I think] genuinely never understood how offensive his original broadside on the arxiv was; he really doesn’t seem to understand that it was he who started this fight.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Clifford Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:47:02 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-482 No, no no... Thank <b><em>you</em></b>.... -cvj No, no no… Thank you….

-cvj

]]> By: Aaron Bergman http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/comment-page-1/#comment-480 Aaron Bergman Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:07:26 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/08/21/more-scenes-from-the-storm-in-a-teacup-i/#comment-480 Thanx. Thanx.

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