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The Resource Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray, Sabine Hossenfelder

Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray, Sabine Hossenfelder

Creator
Author
Summary
"Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xi, 291 pages
Note
"June 2018"--Title page verso
Contents
  • Preface
  • The hidden rules of physics : in which I realize I don't understand physics anymore. I talk to friends and colleagues, see I'm not the only one confused, and set out to bring reason back to Earth
  • What a wonderful world : in which I read a lot of books about dead people and find that everyone likes pretty ideas but that pretty ideas sometimes work badly. At a conference I begin to worry that physicists are about to discard the scientific method
  • The state of the union : in which I sum up ten years of education in twenty pages and chat about the glory days of particle physics
  • Cracks in the foundations : in which I meet with Nima Arkani-Hamed and do my best to accept that nature isn't natural, everything we learn is awesome, and that nobody gives a fuck what I think
  • Ideal theories : in which I search for the end of science but find that the imagination of theoretical physicists is endless. I fly to Austin, I let Steven Weinberg talk at me, and realize how much we do just to avoid boredom
  • The incomprehensible comprehensibility of quantum mechanics : in which I ponder the difference between math and magic
  • One to rule them all : in which I try to find out if anyone would care about the laws of nature if they weren't beautiful. I stop off in Arizona, where Frank Wilczek tells me his little Theory of Something, then I fly to Maui and listen to Garrett Lisi. I learn some ugly facts and count physicists
  • Space, the final frontier : in which I try to understand a string theorist and almost succeed
  • The universe, all there is, and the rest : in which I admire the many ways to explain why nobody sees the particles we invent
  • Knowledge is power : in which I conclude the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me
  • Appendix A. The standard model particles
  • Appendix B. The trouble with naturalness
  • Appendix C. What you can do to help
Isbn
9780465094257
Instance
Label
Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray
Title
Lost in math
Title remainder
how beauty leads physics astray
Statement of responsibility
Sabine Hossenfelder
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth"--
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
OU/DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1976-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Hossenfelder, Sabine
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
QC20.6
LC item number
.H67 2018
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Mathematical physics
  • Science
  • Cosmology
  • Quantum theory
  • Aesthetics
  • Aesthetics
  • Cosmology
  • Mathematical physics
  • Quantum theory
Label
Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray, Sabine Hossenfelder
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Note
"June 2018"--Title page verso
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-275) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface -- The hidden rules of physics : in which I realize I don't understand physics anymore. I talk to friends and colleagues, see I'm not the only one confused, and set out to bring reason back to Earth -- What a wonderful world : in which I read a lot of books about dead people and find that everyone likes pretty ideas but that pretty ideas sometimes work badly. At a conference I begin to worry that physicists are about to discard the scientific method -- The state of the union : in which I sum up ten years of education in twenty pages and chat about the glory days of particle physics -- Cracks in the foundations : in which I meet with Nima Arkani-Hamed and do my best to accept that nature isn't natural, everything we learn is awesome, and that nobody gives a fuck what I think -- Ideal theories : in which I search for the end of science but find that the imagination of theoretical physicists is endless. I fly to Austin, I let Steven Weinberg talk at me, and realize how much we do just to avoid boredom -- The incomprehensible comprehensibility of quantum mechanics : in which I ponder the difference between math and magic -- One to rule them all : in which I try to find out if anyone would care about the laws of nature if they weren't beautiful. I stop off in Arizona, where Frank Wilczek tells me his little Theory of Something, then I fly to Maui and listen to Garrett Lisi. I learn some ugly facts and count physicists -- Space, the final frontier : in which I try to understand a string theorist and almost succeed -- The universe, all there is, and the rest : in which I admire the many ways to explain why nobody sees the particles we invent -- Knowledge is power : in which I conclude the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me -- Appendix A. The standard model particles -- Appendix B. The trouble with naturalness -- Appendix C. What you can do to help
Control code
on1005547825
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xi, 291 pages
Isbn
9780465094257
Lccn
2017057165
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other control number
99977230156
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)1005547825
Label
Lost in math : how beauty leads physics astray, Sabine Hossenfelder
Publication
Copyright
Note
"June 2018"--Title page verso
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-275) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Preface -- The hidden rules of physics : in which I realize I don't understand physics anymore. I talk to friends and colleagues, see I'm not the only one confused, and set out to bring reason back to Earth -- What a wonderful world : in which I read a lot of books about dead people and find that everyone likes pretty ideas but that pretty ideas sometimes work badly. At a conference I begin to worry that physicists are about to discard the scientific method -- The state of the union : in which I sum up ten years of education in twenty pages and chat about the glory days of particle physics -- Cracks in the foundations : in which I meet with Nima Arkani-Hamed and do my best to accept that nature isn't natural, everything we learn is awesome, and that nobody gives a fuck what I think -- Ideal theories : in which I search for the end of science but find that the imagination of theoretical physicists is endless. I fly to Austin, I let Steven Weinberg talk at me, and realize how much we do just to avoid boredom -- The incomprehensible comprehensibility of quantum mechanics : in which I ponder the difference between math and magic -- One to rule them all : in which I try to find out if anyone would care about the laws of nature if they weren't beautiful. I stop off in Arizona, where Frank Wilczek tells me his little Theory of Something, then I fly to Maui and listen to Garrett Lisi. I learn some ugly facts and count physicists -- Space, the final frontier : in which I try to understand a string theorist and almost succeed -- The universe, all there is, and the rest : in which I admire the many ways to explain why nobody sees the particles we invent -- Knowledge is power : in which I conclude the world would be a better place if everyone listened to me -- Appendix A. The standard model particles -- Appendix B. The trouble with naturalness -- Appendix C. What you can do to help
Control code
on1005547825
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xi, 291 pages
Isbn
9780465094257
Lccn
2017057165
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other control number
99977230156
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)1005547825

Subject

Genre

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