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One reason why theories need to be testable is for checking out which of two theories is correct. If both theories fit with what has been observed so far, you t
by woodandsteel 9y ago
One reason why theories need to be testable is for checking out which of two theories is correct. If both theories fit with what has been observed so far, you think of a situation where they make different predictions, and then collect some new data and then see which theory turns out to be correct.
String theorists seem to think their theory is so beautiful that there is no need for it to be able to pass this sort of test.
- dragonwriter 9y ago> String theorists seem to think their theory is so beautiful that there is no need for it to be able to pass this sort of test. I don't see any evidence that string theorists don't believe that having practically-testable predictions is desirable. IIRC, actually, there was quite a bit of noise a few years back when string theory was the basis for in-principle-testable predictions regarding quantum entanglement, but I don't know if any practical tests have been constructed.
- woodandsteel 9y agoThe blog post in question is about how at least some string theorists think that string theory has been proven true, in spite of the fact that no one knows how to test it empirically. The post includes a link to an article that argues against this https://www.nature.com/news/scientific-method-defend-the-integrity-of-physics-1.16535 https://www.nature.com/news/scientific-method-defend-the-int... So yes, they would like it if there were practical tests, but no, they don't think they are necessary.