Why trust a theory? : epistemology of fundamental physics

Description

Do we need to reconsider scientific methodology in light of modern physics? Has the traditional scientific method become outdated, does it need to be defended against dangerous incursions, or has it always been different from what the canonical view suggests? To what extent should we accept non-empirical strategies for scientific theory assessment? Many core aspects of contemporary fundamental physics are far from empirically well-confirmed. There is controversy on the epistemic status of the corresponding theories, in particular cosmic inflation, the multiverse, and string theory. This collection of essays is based on the high profile workshop 'Why Trust a Theory?' and provides interdisciplinary perspectives on empirical testing in fundamental physics from leading physicists, philosophers and historians of science. Integrating different contemporary and historical positions, it will be of interest to philosophers of science and physicists, as well as anyone interested in the foundations of contemporary science.  Read more... Introduction -- Historical and conceptual background. Fundamental theories and epistemic shifts : can history of science serve as a guide? -- Scientific speculation : a pragmatic approach -- Assessing scientific theories -- Philosophy of science and the string wars : a view from the outside -- Theory assessment beyond empirical confirmation. The significance of non-empirical confirmation in fundamental physics -- The dangers of non-empirical confirmation -- No alternative to proliferation -- Physics without experiments? -- Scientific methodology : a view from early string theory -- What can we learn from analogue experiments? -- Are black holes about information? -- Cosmology and testability. The limits of cosmology -- The role of cosmology in modern physics -- Theory confirmation and multiverses -- Beyond falsifiability : normal science in a multiverse -- Gaining access to the early universe -- Prospects for confirmation in string theory. String theory to the rescue -- Why trust a theory? Some further remarks -- The dangerous irrelevance of string theory -- String/M-theories about our world are testable in the traditional physics way -- Is string phenomenology an oxymoron?