Scientific Methodology: A View from Early String Theory
Abstract
This paper addresses the question as to whether the methodology followed in building and assessing string theory can be considered scientific in the same sense, say, that the methodology followed in building and assessing the Standard Model of particle physics is scientific, by focussing on the "founding" period of the theory. More precisely, its aim is to argue for a positive answer to the above question (there is no real change of scientific status in the way of proceeding and reasoning in fundamental physical research) in the light of a historical analysis of the early developments of the string theoretical framework.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1802.03850,
title = {Scientific Methodology: A View from Early String Theory},
author = {Elena Castellani},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1802.03850},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
Contribution to the volume "Epistemology of Fundamental Physics: Why Trust a Theory?", eds. R. Dawid, R. Dardashti, and K. Thebault, Cambridge University Press