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Eric Weinstein discusses [[Quantum Gravity|Quantum Gravity (QG)]] as a non-historical paradigm that emerged abruptly, induced stagnation in fundamental physics, and enforces false but unquestionable narratives, potentially tied to institutional or security motives. He contrasts it with alternatives like Geometric Unity (GU), emphasizing unification over quantization. Below is a breakdown organized thematically, drawing verbatim from his social media posts. | Eric Weinstein discusses [[Quantum Gravity|Quantum Gravity (QG)]] as a non-historical paradigm that emerged abruptly, induced stagnation in fundamental physics, and enforces false but unquestionable narratives, potentially tied to institutional or security motives. He contrasts it with alternatives like [[Theory of Geometric Unity|Geometric Unity (GU)]], emphasizing unification over quantization. Below is a breakdown organized thematically, drawing verbatim from his social media posts. | ||
== Abrupt Emergence and Non-Historical Status == | == Abrupt Emergence and Non-Historical Status == | ||
Weinstein repeatedly states that QG is not a natural or longstanding goal but a sudden replacement for earlier pursuits like Unified Field Theory, lacking historical precedence. | Weinstein repeatedly states that [[Quantum Gravity|QG]] is not a natural or longstanding goal but a sudden replacement for earlier pursuits like Unified Field Theory, lacking historical precedence. | ||
* "There is an interesting story I donât know well enough. Many will recall the phrase 'Unified Field Theory' as the hoped for âTheory of Everything.â At some point this got replaced by [[Quantum Gravity|âQuantum Gravityâ]] as the goal. Does anyone know the full story behind this? Was it â70s? And how?" (February 17, 2019).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1097020781987475457 February 17, 2019]</ref> | * "There is an interesting story I donât know well enough. Many will recall the phrase 'Unified Field Theory' as the hoped for âTheory of Everything.â At some point this got replaced by [[Quantum Gravity|âQuantum Gravityâ]] as the goal. Does anyone know the full story behind this? Was it â70s? And how?" (February 17, 2019).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1097020781987475457 February 17, 2019]</ref> | ||
* [[Quantum Gravity|"Quantum Gravity]] is a 69 year long slow-motion suicide pact. Can we discuss it? No we cannot. That would require discussing its modern origins in 1953 and 1957. It is, by now, too big to fail. It is not even the elephant in the room. Itâs the blue whale in physicsâ linen closet." (November 7, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1589644546920837120 November 7, 2022]</ref> | * [[Quantum Gravity|"Quantum Gravity]] is a 69 year long slow-motion suicide pact. Can we discuss it? No we cannot. That would require discussing its modern origins in 1953 and 1957. It is, by now, too big to fail. It is not even the elephant in the room. Itâs the blue whale in physicsâ linen closet." (November 7, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1589644546920837120 November 7, 2022]</ref> | ||
* "âQuantum Gravityâ is not the historical âHoly Grailâ of physics as is currently claimed." (June 21, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1936556106927899919 June 21, 2025]</ref> | * "[[Quantum Gravity|âQuantum Gravityâ]] is not the historical âHoly Grailâ of physics as is currently claimed." (June 21, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1936556106927899919 June 21, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "I don't think [Quantum Gravity] as it is practiced is a real research program. It is the obvious candidate for the 'inhibitor' that, when added to research, stagnated physics...and it didn't come out of some longstanding program from the birth of quantum mechanics. It came out of nowhere right before we stopped making progress on the Lagrangian of the real world." (June 12, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1932978908464623855 June 12, 2025]</ref> | * "I don't think [Quantum Gravity] as it is practiced is a real research program. It is the obvious candidate for the 'inhibitor' that, when added to research, stagnated physics...and it didn't come out of some longstanding program from the birth of quantum mechanics. It came out of nowhere right before we stopped making progress on the Lagrangian of the real world." (June 12, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1932978908464623855 June 12, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "There is a tell when listening to physics folks as to whether theyâre captured by the 1984 Quantum Gravity virus. They either say: A) âGeneral Relativity has to be reconciled with the Standard Model.â or B) | * "There is a tell when listening to physics folks as to whether theyâre captured by the 1984 Quantum Gravity virus. They either say: A) âGeneral Relativity has to be reconciled with the Standard Model.â or B) â[[General Relativity]] has to be reconciled with Quantum Theory.â" (October 30, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1983883266920837120 October 30, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "I would point you to my favorite documents. Gell-Mannâs 1983 Keynote from Shelter Island II is the best of all because it is RIGHT before the GS anomaly cancellation. QG is not one of the leading 4 problems at the time. Clearly... Wittenâs 1986 'Physics and Geometry' address to the ICM. It is clear that the quantum is not even in the top 3 insights of fundamental physics as he sees it. Itâs all classical field theory. And that is Ed. This QG focus titrated by energy level is a very late focus. Itâs a very Ken Wilson/QFT centric view of the SM." (November 2, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1985096216920837120 November 2, 2025]</ref> | * "I would point you to my favorite documents. Gell-Mannâs 1983 Keynote from Shelter Island II is the best of all because it is RIGHT before the GS anomaly cancellation. [[Quantum Gravity|QG]] is not one of the leading 4 problems at the time. Clearly... Wittenâs 1986 'Physics and Geometry' address to the ICM. It is clear that the quantum is not even in the top 3 insights of fundamental physics as he sees it. Itâs all classical field theory. And that is Ed. This [[Quantum Gravity|QG]] focus titrated by energy level is a very late focus. Itâs a very Ken Wilson/[[Quantum Field Theory|QFT]] centric view of the [[Standard Model|SM]]." (November 2, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1985096216920837120 November 2, 2025]</ref> | ||
He ties this to post-Manhattan Project changes: "We took whole areas of physics off line after the Manhattan project and that was *NOT* limited to just the Nuclear Physics of nuclear warheads" (June 12, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1932978911018954943 June 12, 2025]</ref> | He ties this to post-Manhattan Project changes: "We took whole areas of physics off line after the Manhattan project and that was *NOT* limited to just the Nuclear Physics of nuclear warheads" (June 12, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1932978911018954943 June 12, 2025]</ref> | ||
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* "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 [[The Only Game in Town|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." (October 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1975659241781575728 October 7, 2025]</ref> | * "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 [[The Only Game in Town|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." (October 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1975659241781575728 October 7, 2025]</ref> | ||
He calls for reforms: "Iâd propose total reassessment of the National Physics program. Much greater autonomy for theorists. *Much* higher salaries. Much greater *diversity* of approaches. More high precision work. Fewer graduate programs. Physics = economic/security priority. Admit String Thy failure." (April 22, 2021).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1385263862698577922 April 22, 2021]</ref> | He calls for reforms: "Iâd propose total reassessment of the National Physics program. Much greater autonomy for theorists. *Much* higher salaries. Much greater *diversity* of approaches. More high precision work. Fewer graduate programs. Physics = economic/security priority. Admit [[String Theory|String Thy]] failure." (April 22, 2021).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1385263862698577922 April 22, 2021]</ref> | ||
== Ties to String Theory and Enforced Monopoly == | == Ties to String Theory and Enforced Monopoly == | ||
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* "What has string theory done to become the poster child of failed physics? It hasnât even failed... because it canât fail. So far as I can see, it can never fail. In the minds of the faithful, Itâs unable to fail because it *has* to be the way forward." (August 23, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562121666924504705 August 23, 2022]</ref> | * "What has string theory done to become the poster child of failed physics? It hasnât even failed... because it canât fail. So far as I can see, it can never fail. In the minds of the faithful, Itâs unable to fail because it *has* to be the way forward." (August 23, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562121666924504705 August 23, 2022]</ref> | ||
* "A) High energy physics of real particles became the no-energy physics of toy models. B) Quantizing Gravity was substituted for unification or extension of the Standard model. C) Other research programs were obliterated because ST claimed it had it all rapped up. D) Hype won. E) Focus shifted to mathematical structure of abstract field/ [String/M theory]. Not our particular worldâs choice of thy. F) Standards of scientific progress were rewritten to disguise failure. G) Differential application of standards became the norm. It ended physics culture." (August 24, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562463292345372672 August 24, 2022]</ref> | * "A) High energy physics of real particles became the no-energy physics of toy models. B) Quantizing Gravity was substituted for unification or extension of the Standard model. C) Other research programs were obliterated because ST claimed it had it all rapped up. D) Hype won. E) Focus shifted to mathematical structure of abstract field/[[String Theory|String/M theory]]. Not our particular worldâs choice of thy. F) Standards of scientific progress were rewritten to disguise failure. G) Differential application of standards became the norm. It ended physics culture." (August 24, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562463292345372672 August 24, 2022]</ref> | ||
* "[String Theory] isnât the problem. String culture is poisonous to science. String theory, like love, means never having to say your sorry. Or mistaken." (August 24, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562465038962610178 August 24, 2022]</ref> | * "[String Theory] isnât the problem. String culture is poisonous to science. String theory, like love, means never having to say your sorry. Or mistaken." (August 24, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1562465038962610178 August 24, 2022]</ref> | ||
* "The issue is the âString Theory is the only game in townâ which appears designed to destroy fundamental physics itself... The defining feature of String Theory is that it would rather fundamental physics die than that String Theory face healthy adult rivals that were not maimed, crippled, stolen, or murdered in their cribs." (April 15, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1912032953896673603 April 15, 2025]</ref> | * "The issue is the âString Theory is the only game in townâ which appears designed to destroy fundamental physics itself... The defining feature of String Theory is that it would rather fundamental physics die than that String Theory face healthy adult rivals that were not maimed, crippled, stolen, or murdered in their cribs." (April 15, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1912032953896673603 April 15, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "The appearance of String-Theory/M-theory as âThe Only Game in Townâ (TOGIT) has no precedence... The rivals never got heard." (August 16, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1956769068188594232 August 16, 2025]</ref> | * "The appearance of [[String Theory|String-Theory/M-theory]] as [[The Only Game in Town|âThe Only Game in Townâ (TOGIT)]] has no precedence... The rivals never got heard." (August 16, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1956769068188594232 August 16, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "Congratulations to: @thebadstats @daveexplains @GurusPod @IAmTimNguyen / @Google @Samuel_Gregson @C_Kavanagh @ArthurCDent @kagankans / @WSJ You just showed the world why Quantum Gravity/StringTheory/M-Theory is âThe Only Game in Townâ: Group Bullying * kills* Scientific Dissent" (September 17, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1968365361382002922 September 17, 2025]</ref> | * "Congratulations to: @thebadstats @daveexplains @GurusPod @IAmTimNguyen / @Google @Samuel_Gregson @C_Kavanagh @ArthurCDent @kagankans / @WSJ You just showed the world why Quantum Gravity/StringTheory/M-Theory is âThe Only Game in Townâ: Group Bullying * kills* Scientific Dissent" (September 17, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1968365361382002922 September 17, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "Right Freeway: GR and SM must be harmonized. 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" (October 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1975659241781575728 October 7, 2025]</ref> | * "Right Freeway: GR and SM must be harmonized. 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" (October 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1975659241781575728 October 7, 2025]</ref> | ||
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== Institutional, Ethical, and Security Aspects == | == Institutional, Ethical, and Security Aspects == | ||
Weinstein speculates QG as a "mass delusion" or construct to suppress dangerous physics, involving ethical issues and "Managed Reality." | Weinstein speculates [[Quantum Gravity|QG]] as a "mass delusion" or construct to suppress dangerous physics, involving ethical issues and "Managed Reality." | ||
* "The Q-Gravity Mass Delusion is quite different in character. It is highly specific in its effect. It is tied to all sorts of weirdness involving top physics and math people, bizarre funders, forgotten research institutes, aerospace companies, post Manhattan Project government secrecy, the golden age of General Relativity andâŠwords fail meâŠoutright quackery." (November 7, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1589666446920837120 November 7, 2022]</ref> | * "The [[Quantum Gravity|Q-Gravity Mass Delusion]] is quite different in character. It is highly specific in its effect. It is tied to all sorts of weirdness involving top physics and math people, bizarre funders, forgotten research institutes, aerospace companies, post Manhattan Project government secrecy, the golden age of General Relativity andâŠwords fail meâŠoutright quackery." (November 7, 2022).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1589666446920837120 November 7, 2022]</ref> | ||
* "What I do wonder about is whether the U.S. government is blocking all public university fundamental physics preemptively with [quantum gravity]âŠwhile likely *failing* at it in secret (e.g. in national labs) as well." (June 22, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1936975226923150562 June 22, 2025]</ref> | * "What I do wonder about is whether the U.S. government is blocking all public university fundamental physics preemptively with [quantum gravity]âŠwhile likely *failing* at it in secret (e.g. in national labs) as well." (June 22, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1936975226923150562 June 22, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "We may be faking a [[Quantum Gravity]] revolution... We may be lying that all the competitors to String theory are all bad science or PseudoScience." (June 23, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1937032792971612619 June 23, 2025]</ref> | * "We may be faking a [[Quantum Gravity]] revolution... We may be lying that all the competitors to String theory are all bad science or PseudoScience." (June 23, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1937032792971612619 June 23, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "No researcher can afford to lose access to the arXiv. And no one talking openly about the actual [[Quantum Gravity]] mass delusion can have access to the journals & arXIv. You cannot challenge the QG narrative from the inside; its achievement is that it finally made physics *safe*." (June 3, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1930004307732247023 June 3, 2025]</ref> | * "No researcher can afford to lose access to the arXiv. And no one talking openly about the actual [[Quantum Gravity]] mass delusion can have access to the journals & arXIv. You cannot challenge the QG narrative from the inside; its achievement is that it finally made physics *safe*." (June 3, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1930004307732247023 June 3, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "We have a [[Quantum Gravity]] narrative... Itâs all one thing that cannot be named: National Interest | * "We have a [[Quantum Gravity]] narrative... Itâs all one thing that cannot be named: National Interest â[[Managed Reality TM|Managed Reality]].â" (July 5, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1941522174428565613 July 5, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "[[Quantum Gravity]] has been a catastrophe... And in all cases you lose your standing in the community for saying the obvious." (September 25, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1971105526920837120 September 25, 2025]</ref> | * "[[Quantum Gravity]] has been a catastrophe... And in all cases you lose your standing in the community for saying the obvious." (September 25, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1971105526920837120 September 25, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "The freedom of credentialed technical experts to dissent FROM WITHIN THE SYSTEM is at the heart of what is wrong with science..." (September 25, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1971105526920837120 September 25, 2025]</ref> | * "The freedom of credentialed technical experts to dissent FROM WITHIN THE SYSTEM is at the heart of what is wrong with science..." (September 25, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1971105526920837120 September 25, 2025]</ref> | ||
* "All physicists are expected to parrot a party line: 'Our two greatest theories are General Relativity... and the Standard Model... Unfortunately, they are incompatible because one is a quantum theory while the other is merely classical. That is why... a theory of quantum gravity (QG) has been seen as the holy grail... But quantizing gravity must occur... So the ultimate theory of QG remains physicsâ top priority.' Or words to that effect. On the other hand this is wrong in many ways. But it canât be discussed rationally because funding hinges on it. Itâs a life or death fairy tale." (July 26, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1949075689174647063 July 26, 2025]</ref> | * "All physicists are expected to parrot a party line: 'Our two greatest theories are [[General Relativity]]... and the [[Standard Model]]... Unfortunately, they are incompatible because one is a quantum theory while the other is merely classical. That is why... a theory of [[Quantum Gravity|quantum gravity (QG)]] has been seen as the holy grail... But quantizing gravity must occur... So the ultimate theory of [[Quantum Gravity|QG]] remains physicsâ top priority.' Or words to that effect. On the other hand this is wrong in many ways. But it canât be discussed rationally because funding hinges on it. Itâs a life or death fairy tale." (July 26, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1949075689174647063 July 26, 2025]</ref> | ||
== Alternatives and Geometric Unity Contrasts == | == Alternatives and Geometric Unity Contrasts == | ||
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* "GR isn't a proper gauge theory because the Einstein projection <math>P_E(F_{\nabla})</math> doesn't commute with gauge actions, and spinors depend on the metric. GU liberates spinors from metrics, unifies curvatures <math>F</math>, and includes explicit Lagrangians." (Derived from multiple posts). | * "GR isn't a proper gauge theory because the Einstein projection <math>P_E(F_{\nabla})</math> doesn't commute with gauge actions, and spinors depend on the metric. GU liberates spinors from metrics, unifies curvatures <math>F</math>, and includes explicit Lagrangians." (Derived from multiple posts). | ||
* "GU says: âThat is eminently reasonable & sober, and is thus good solid science. Now get this defeatist mindset the hell away from me, go peer review each other, and hold my beer. Send lawyers, guns & money: letâs get back to American Cowboy science.â" (November 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1986803710551290047 November 7, 2025]</ref> | * "GU says: âThat is eminently reasonable & sober, and is thus good solid science. Now get this defeatist mindset the hell away from me, go peer review each other, and hold my beer. Send lawyers, guns & money: letâs get back to American Cowboy science.â" (November 7, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1986803710551290047 November 7, 2025]</ref> | ||
* He critiques QG's blocking: "The rivals never got heard." (August 16, 2025).<ref>[https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1956769068188594232 August 16, 2025]</ref> | |||
In essence, Weinstein's posts depict QG as a "catastrophe" and "mass delusion" that "destroyed" physics culture, urging dissent and alternatives like GU. His language stresses its non-historical, paralyzing nature, with direct calls to question the enforced narrative. | |||
 | == More On X == | ||
== On X == | |||
=== 2016 === | === 2016 === | ||