Is a Grand Unified Theory of physics possible? (Darwin, doom)

[yossarian22]

Originally Posted by Jay

Sorry that the issue hasn't been solved to your satisfaction. Perhaps it's time for us to tell the world of theoretical physics that, per yossarian, it is wasting its time, and that they should content themselves to anxiously await the time when your petty ridicule gives way to something more substantive and constructive.

Strange how you have made the leap from me mocking the idea of string theory being anywhere close to fruition, to me mocking theoretical physics as a whole.

[yossarian22]

Originally Posted by EiNsTeiN

The results will be either supporting the String theory and give us evidences for its validety, and that would really be cool....Or the results can show how much we dont know anything, and they can open the doors to totally new sciences and theories!...Who knows anyway!

If string theory is given at least some experimental validity, then we are within spitting distance of a unified field theory.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by Jay

I am reminded of ...

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.

- Charles Darwin; Introduction to The Descent of Man (1871)

What a wonderful quote.

Unfortunately, the converse is also true. There are many who are convinced that science will be able to explain everything. Either premise is patently false.

[EiNsTeiN]

Originally Posted by yossarian22

If string theory is given at least some experimental validity, then we are within spitting distance of a unified field theory.

Not really....It will still require too much work to make it more satisfactory..
The problem with the string theory remains in its highly complicated mathematical manipulation...It should remain an issue for a longer time

But yeah, you are right...we will still be within spitting distance of the unified theory

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

What a wonderful quote.

Unfortunately, the converse is also true. There are many who are convinced that science will be able to explain everything. Either premise is patently false.

Agreed. Perhaps the most difficult stance - at least for me - is one of humility and awe in the face of that which transcends explanation.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by Jay

Agreed. Perhaps the most difficult stance - at least for me - is one of humility and awe in the face of that which transcends explanation.

I am usually humbled by a myriad of things. My own ineptitude, the grandeur of my underwater world and my precarious existence while in that sub aquatic realm. It's not hard for me to admit that I know close to nothing while at the same time trying to understand as much as my feeble brain will allow.

[Seyorni]

I find string theories fascinating, but it must be admitted that they have little empirical support, as yet. So far, they're more speculation than theory.

[Comet]

Originally Posted by EiNsTeiN

Yeah...Who knows..

But I still think we won't achieve it

You know, it's like an asymptot....We get very close, but never reach..

That is the same principal of me putting you 20 yards from a wall.... every year I allow you to move 1/2 the distance between you and the wall. 60 years down the road, you will think you are no closer to reaching it!!!!!!!!!!

[EiNsTeiN]