Roughly how many people in this world actually know about string theory?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of how many people in the world have knowledge of string theory, exploring the definitions of "knowing about" and "fully understanding" the theory. Participants engage in a debate about the accessibility and comprehension of string theory within the physics community.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant estimates that only a few hundred people truly understand string theory due to its complex mathematics.
  • Another participant suggests that several thousand might know about string theory, referencing statistics on physics PhDs, but acknowledges that this includes those who may no longer be active in the field.
  • There is a discussion about the definition of "know about," with some arguing it implies a deep understanding, while others believe it could refer to a more general awareness of the theory.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the completeness of string theory, suggesting that it remains controversial and lacks experimental confirmation.
  • One participant posits that the number of individuals with a deep understanding of string theory could be as low as zero, depending on how one defines understanding.
  • Another participant argues that while matter may not be made of strings, some mathematical tools developed for string theory have applications in other areas.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the number of people who truly understand string theory, with multiple competing views on the definitions and implications of knowledge about the theory. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent of understanding within the physics community.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the ambiguity in defining what it means to "know about" string theory, which affects the estimates of how many individuals possess such knowledge. There are also references to the incomplete nature of string theory and its lack of experimental validation.

alan123hk
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Roughly how many people in this world actually know about string theory?
I'm guessing no more than a few hundred because the math of string theory is so esoteric.

 
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Define "know about". Sounds to me like you mean "fully understand" which is hardly the same thing.
 
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caz said:
Looking at https://www.aip.org/statistics/reports/trends-physics-phds-171819 one would guess several thousand, but that would include people who are no longer active.
This appears to be just the number of doctorates awarded each year, which includes physics and all other fields of academic study. I don't think even academics with PhDs in physics necessarily have a deep understanding of string theory because there are so many different areas of study in physics.
Furthermore, I think that perhaps one or two of the ten outstanding scholars who have obtained doctorates in theoretical physics can really understand string theory thoroughly.

phinds said:
Define "know about". Sounds to me like you mean "fully understand" which is hardly the same thing.
Yes, I mean a deep and thorough understanding of string theory.
There are probably no more than a few hundred such geniuses among the billions of people in the world.
 
Last edited:
alan123hk said:
Yes, I mean a deep and thorough understanding of string theory.
That number could be as small as zero. Depending on your definition?
How long is a piece of string?
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
How long is a piece of string?

Long enough to reach each end. . . . :-p

.
 
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phinds said:
Define "know about". Sounds to me like you mean "fully understand" which is hardly the same thing.
I was going to say that. I'm sure more than a few hundred people know about string theory. It is simply delusional to think otherwise.

To the OP: your question is poorly phrased.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
That number could be as small as zero. Depending on your definition?
I look again at the linked video clip from the first post. It seems that string theory itself is not very complete, there is still controversy, and there is no experiment to confirm its authenticity
From this perspective, perhaps until now, no one in the world has really fully understood string theory.
 
alan123hk said:
I look again at the linked video clip from the first post. It seems that string theory itself is not very complete, there is still controversy, and there is no experiment to confirm its authenticity
From this perspective, perhaps no one in the world really fully understands string theory.
String Theory, as I understand it, is an elegant mathematical construct that so far has no correlation to the physical world.
 
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phinds said:
no correlation to the physical world.
Not so. It may be that matter is not made of strings, but some of the mathematical tools developed for strings have applications elsewhere.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
Not so. It may be that matter is not made of strings, but some of the mathematical tools developed for strings have applications elsewhere.
Fair enough. I was really just thinking of String Theory as a description of matter. I may BE such a description, but no way to tell yet.
 

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