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Right Freeway, Wrong Exit: Difference between revisions
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* A âwrong exitâ occurs when the right conceptual direction is pursued through an unsuitable or overly restrictive formalism. | * A âwrong exitâ occurs when the right conceptual direction is pursued through an unsuitable or overly restrictive formalism. | ||
The metaphor captures Weinsteinâs view that many missteps in physics stem not from misguided goals, but from premature or misdirected implementation choices. | The metaphor stems from Weinsteinâs [[Paul Dirac - The Evolution of the Physicistâs Picture of Nature|analysis of Paul Dirac's 1963 Scientific American article, ''The Evolution of the Physicistâs Picture of Nature'']], and captures Weinsteinâs view that many missteps in physics stem not from misguided goals, but from premature or misdirected implementation choices. | ||
== Historical Examples == | == Historical Examples == | ||
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# '''Quantum Gravity / String Theory''' | # '''Quantum Gravity / String Theory''' | ||
#* ''Freeway:'' The ambition to reconcile the [[Standard Model|Standard Model (SM)]] with [[General Relativity|General Relativity (GR)]]. | #* ''Freeway:'' The ambition to reconcile the [[Standard Model|Standard Model (SM)]] with [[General Relativity|General Relativity (GR)]]. | ||
#* ''Exit:'' The dominance of [[Quantum Gravity]]/[[String Theory]]/M-Theory as the [[The Only Game in Town]]. | #* ''Exit:'' The dominance of [[Quantum Gravity]]/[[String Theory]]/M-Theory as the [[The Only Game in Town (TOGIT)]]. | ||
#* ''Claim:'' This exit has become conflated with the freeway itself, crowding out alternative conceptual frameworks. | #* ''Claim:'' This exit has become conflated with the freeway itself, crowding out alternative conceptual frameworks. | ||
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The last time there was a Theoretical Physicist in his 30s recognized with a Nobel prize for contributing to Fundamental Physics was: | The last time there was a Theoretical Physicist in his 30s recognized with a Nobel prize for contributing to Fundamental Physics was: | ||
|media1=ERW-X-post-1975607761850540467.jpg | |||
|timestamp=5:02 PM · Oct 7, 2025 | |timestamp=5:02 PM · Oct 7, 2025 | ||
}} | }} | ||
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I) We abandoned GUTs mostly. Why? Because we drew the wrong lesson from SU(5) proton decay. | I) We abandoned GUTs mostly. Why? Because we drew the wrong lesson from SU(5) proton decay. | ||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Right Freeway]] (Grand Unification)</br> | |||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Wrong Exit]] (Compact Simple Lie Grps) | |||
II) We screwed up Supersymmetry by basing it on Minkowski space. | II) We screwed up Supersymmetry by basing it on Minkowski space. | ||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Right Freeway]] (Graded Lie Groups)</br> | |||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Wrong Exit]] (Spacetime SUSY with fake super partners which dont exist based on supposedlu âinternalâ auxiliary symmetries) | |||
III) And then the massive massive massive screw up was allowing the totalizing madness of âQuantum Gravityâ to take over HEP-TH as if it were âThe Only Game In Townâ and letting its leadership brainwash the up and coming talent into believing that there was one true path. Totally insane. | III) And then the massive massive massive screw up was allowing the totalizing madness of [[Quantum Gravity|âQuantum Gravityâ]] to take over HEP-TH as if it were [[The Only Game in Town (TOGIT)|âThe Only Game In Townâ]] and letting its leadership brainwash the up and coming talent into believing that there was one true path. Totally insane. | ||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Right Freeway]]: GR and SM must be harmonized.</br> Â | |||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Wrong Exit]]: Catastrophic leadership decisions. âGravity must be quantized and only String Theory and M-Theory can do it. Convert or perish! All mere mortals stand back. We will have this wrapped up in 10 years!! Give us all resources and young talent now.â | |||
|timestamp=8:27 PM · Oct 7, 2025 | |timestamp=8:27 PM · Oct 7, 2025 | ||
}} | }} | ||
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|content=Actually, if you parse carefully youâll see that the freeways are fine. We drew the wrong inferences from choosing the wrong exits. Â | |content=Actually, if you parse carefully youâll see that the freeways are fine. We drew the wrong inferences from choosing the wrong exits. Â | ||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Freeways]] = Ideas</br> | |||
[[Right Freeway, Wrong Exit|Exits]] = Instantiations  | |||
The scientific method too often has a flaw when put into practice. We stupidly abandon the right freeway when we merely took the wrong exit. Â | The scientific method too often has a flaw when put into practice. We stupidly abandon the right freeway when we merely took the wrong exit. Â | ||
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* [[Standard Model]] | * [[Standard Model]] | ||
* [[String Theory]] | * [[String Theory]] | ||
* [[The Only Game in Town]] | * [[The Only Game in Town (TOGIT)]] | ||
[[Category:Ericisms]] | [[Category:Ericisms]] | ||
[[Category:Physics]] | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
[[Category:Portal Topics]] | [[Category:Portal Topics]] | ||