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Lost in Math

How Beauty Leads Physics Astray

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Lost in Math

Written by: Sabine Hossenfelder
Narrated by: Laura Jennings
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About this listen

A contrarian argues that modern physicists' obsession with beauty has given us wonderful math but bad science

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.

©2018 Sabine Hossenfelder (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Epistemology Movements Philosophy Physics Science
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she has amazing style if writing which is quite convincing. I fully agree with it.

excellent, very truly and reflect the reality

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A great read. puts rhe current plight (for want of a better adjective) of theoretical physicists in perspective. the author tends to repeat oneself way to often though. a great ending on what steps to be taken.

good but repetitive

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