String Theory and Scientific Realism
from MCMP – Philosophy of Physics
Richard Dawid (Vienna) gives a talk at the MCMP workshop "Quantum Gravity in Perspective" (31 May-1 June, 2013) titled "String Theory and Scientific Realism". Abstract: T-duality, which is an important feature of string theory, implies that the string scale constitutes a minimal length scale: within the conceptual framework of the theory, no higher energy scale can provide new information. This in turn may be taken to suggest that, if ST is valid at its own characteristic scale, no new theories which become empirically distinguishable from string theory at higher energy scales should be expected to be found. The problem with this final theory claim hinges on the fact that it seems to beg the question by presupposing the conceptual framwork the finality of which it aims to establish. In the talk I aim at understanding significance an limitations of string theorys final theory claim based on the distinction between local and global limitations to scientific underdetermination. It will be argued that the final theory claim does carry some weight but cannot be understood independently from more general considerations about the scientific role of limitations to underdetermination. Some implications of final theory claims for the scientific realism debate are discussed in the second part of the talk.
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