RourkeThu, Apr 24, 2008 I like string theory because of the picture it plants in my mind. The metaphor of a multidimensional bubble floating in infinite space really is beautiful.
Scientists are always talking about models/equations/ideas/theories that have inate beauty. A large part of science is instinctive, the greatest discoveries of our history were made by following hunches to their conclusion.
Even if string theory ends up as a non-testable model, it still has value because it still has beauty. If it can explain some aspects of reality then it is useful. Just because relativity theory was a better model than Newton's laws, doesn't mean we all forgot Newton overnight.
I like string theory because of the picture it plants in my mind. The metaphor of a multidimensional bubble floating in infinite space really is beautiful.
Scientists are always talking about models/equations/ideas/theories that have inate beauty. A large part of science is instinctive, the greatest discoveries of our history were made by following hunches to their conclusion.
Even if string theory ends up as a non-testable model, it still has value because it still has beauty. If it can explain some aspects of reality then it is useful. Just because relativity theory was a better model than Newton's laws, doesn't mean we all forgot Newton overnight.
Value comes in many forms.