String theory, Einstein, and the identity of physics: Theory assessment in absence of the empirical (2021)
String theorists are certain that they are practicing physicists. Yet, some of their recent critics deny this. This paper argues that this conflict is really about who holds authority in making rational judgment in theoretical physics. At bottom, the conflict centers on the question: who is a proper physicist? To illustrate and understand the differing opinions about proper practice and identity, we discuss different appreciations of epistemic virtues and explanation among string theorists and their critics, and how these have been sourced in accounts of Einstein's biography. Just as Einstein is claimed by both sides, historiography offers examples of both successful and unsuccessful non-empirical science. History of science also teaches that times of conflict are often times of innovation, in which novel scholarly identities may come into being. At the same time, since the contributions of Thomas Kuhn historians have developed a critical attitude towards formal attempts and methodological recipes for epistemic demarcation and justification of scientific practice. These are now, however, being considered in the debate on non-empirical physics.
...MoreSimilar Citations
Book
Ohanian, Hans C.;
(2008)
Einstein's Mistakes: The Human Failings of Genius
(/isis/citation/CBB000850384/)
Book
Isaacson, Walter;
(2007)
Einstein: His Life and Universe
(/isis/citation/CBB000850759/)
Book
Rigden, John S.;
(2005)
Einstein 1905: The Standard of Greatness
(/isis/citation/CBB000500205/)
Book
Jürgen Renn;
Hanoch Gutfreund;
(2020)
Einstein on Einstein: Autobiographical and Scientific Reflections
(/isis/citation/CBB067633963/)
Book
Mirella Fortino;
(2017)
Pierre Duhem: Verità, ragione e metodo
(/isis/citation/CBB718409602/)
Article
Volker Scheid;
Curie Virág;
(2018)
Introduction to History of Science Special Section on Tong 通
(/isis/citation/CBB313482180/)
Thesis
Karaca, Koray;
(2010)
Historical and Conceptual Foundations of the Higher Dimensional Unification Program in Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB001561041/)
Article
Jentschura, U.D.;
Nándori, I.;
(2014)
Attempts at a Determination of the Fine-Structure Constant from First Principles: a Brief Historical Overview
(/isis/citation/CBB001451860/)
Chapter
Paolo Rossi;
(2017)
Death and resurrection of Field Theory: 1960-1975
(/isis/citation/CBB504309974/)
Book
Mirko Grmek;
Hans-Jörg Rheinberger;
(2018)
Pathological Realities: Essays on Disease, Experiments, and History
(/isis/citation/CBB288323740/)
Article
Fu, Jia-Chen;
(September 2019)
Practice and the History of Science in the PRC: A Historiographic Reflection
(/isis/citation/CBB273109397/)
Chapter
Stefano Bordoni;
(2017)
Pierre Duhem 1891-1896. Dalla fisica teorica alla storia e filosofia della scienza
(/isis/citation/CBB719226825/)
Article
Mattes, Johannes;
(2013)
Alexander von Mörk and Poldi Fuhrich: The Conception of Heroes in Cave Exploration in the Early Twentieth Century
(/isis/citation/CBB001212352/)
Book
Caterina Genna;
(2021)
Federigo Enriques matematico e filosofo
(/isis/citation/CBB703132259/)
Article
Mineke Bosch;
(2016)
Scholarly Personae and Twentieth-Century Historians: Explorations of a Concept
(/isis/citation/CBB379372360/)
Book
Robinson, Andrew;
(2010)
Sudden Genius? The Gradual Path to Creative Breakthroughs
(/isis/citation/CBB001220095/)
Chapter
Fröhlich, Jürg;
(2008)
Einstein and h: Advances in Quantum Mechanics
(/isis/citation/CBB000820132/)
Article
Joël Dolbeault;
(2018)
Einstein et l’univers-bloc
(/isis/citation/CBB905178751/)
Article
Laurence Moulinier-Brogi;
(2014)
Modèle ou faire-valoir ?
(/isis/citation/CBB291796789/)
Chapter
Dawid, Richard;
(2008)
Wenn Naturwissenschaftler über Naturwissenschaftlichkeit streiten. Die Veränderlichkeit von Wissenschaftsparadigmen am Beispiel der Stringtheorie
(/isis/citation/CBB001023684/)
Be the first to comment!