Is Theoretical Physics Wasting Our Best Living Minds On Nonsense? Moved

[swampwiz]

An interesting essay:

 

[Demystifier]

Interesting analogy between the naturalness problem and the Forbes list, which further supports the idea that the naturalness problem is a pseudoproblem.

 

[arivero]

Please someone move this to The Lounge and let's see if it sparks some interesting discussion

 

[jim mcnamara]

Moved to GD.

 

[mfb]

I saw the title and I immediately expected an article written by Hossenfelder. Turns out she didn't write the article, but the article is still about her book. She makes a career out of hating her previous career now. A questionable decision.

 

[Rive]

I have to admit I don't really understand why some thinks this being something significant. These warnings and rumblings feels redundant for me.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, really. And it's just human nature that if something seems to work then try it again: regardless of how silly it may be (the whole gambling industry can testify for that). Then some people wins the jackpot and the others got forgotten.
Without a clear lead forward physicists are squeezing their personal lucky coins and fishing for the jackpot.
That's how people work. The result (only the result!) will become science at the end.

 

[Hornbein]

I don't criticize the choices of people who are much more informed than I.

Established people can be expected to bias things in their own favor. But that doesn't mean its wrong. Or right. Nobody knows.

 

[jasonRF]

I used to read Hossenfelder‘a blog. As an engineer I found it interesting, even though I am too ignorant to have an informed opinion.

all I know is that many physics PhDs trained In those fields do not stay in them. I used to work with someone trained as a string theorist. Based on this sample size of 1, it is fantastic training. He was probably the best “mathematical engineer” I have ever known. The number of contributions he made to our R&D group was enormous. He left to make big bucks in finance.

not a waste at all. I’d rather have someone like him working on string theory than designing weapons.

jason

 

[mfb]

all I know is that many physics PhDs trained In those fields do not stay in them.

That's trivial as there are more PhD positions than permanent positions, and some physics topics don't exist outside academia.