Why do they say string theory instead of string philosophy?

Question

A theory is generally accepted as valid due to having survived repeated testing

How can something that cant be tested be called a theorey?

Philosophy can be distinguished from empirical science and religion. The Penguin Encyclopedia ([citation needed]) says that philosophy differs from science in that its questions cannot be answered empirically, i.e. by observation or experiment, and from religion, in that its purpose is entirely intellectual, and allows no place for faith or revelation.

I have explained the difference between theory and philosophy. I am not looking for a difinition. Can anybody answer my question?

My question was if you cannot test string theorey its not a really a theory is it? I guess I just answered my own question.

String theory is not a theory but a philosophical statement.

I resolved my own question.

Since string theory is philosophy and not science, should I have posted the question in philosophy?

Answer 1

It's a theory, yes in its physical side it cannot be tested yet, but it derives things that are already tested or measured correctly i.e. the mass of the electron.
In the case you ask "how can we call a hypothesis, theory just in case it derives the knowns?" Because of it's formalism.String theory is made to "Unite" all the fields and forces(weak,strong,electromagnetism,gravitation) ,and for that it starts with only two fundamental constants and derives all the others(it also has the problem of deriving too much since it predicts a lot of undetected particles).
It also has some weak experimental proof for some of it's prediction(for example it predicts two more parts for Einstein's equations which experimental results weakly agree with it).
Beyond all that is string theory's mathematical side.String theory produces it's own mathematics and therefor is a theory in its mathematical side.

Answer 2

The word "theory" has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on the context and their methodologies. In common usage, people use the word "theory" to signify "conjecture", "speculation", or "opinion." In this sense, "theories" are opposed to "facts" — parts of the world, or claims about the world, that are real or true regardless of what people think.
In science, a theory is a proposed description, explanation, or model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition. For example, it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theory which explains why the apple behaves so is the current theory of gravitation.

Answer 3

Theory generally means a proposed explanation that has not yet been proven, whether it can be proved or not. Once proved, it could be called a law. But people don't like change. We still refer to the Theory of Relativity, though we could reasonably call it a law. Many current theories can't be proved, simply because we don't have the technology to make the necessary measurements. Others, because we haven't thought of a prediction made by the theory that can be tested.

String theory isn't even formulated yet. Scientists are continually making predictions based on their formulation of string theory, finding them violated by experiment, then reformulating the theory.

Answer 4

It says that each and each one 4 standard fields of nature are genuinely fields of interacting debris (quantum field theory tells a similar aspect yet very nearly 3 of those 4; no longer gravity). those debris at the prompt are not standard actual entities yet they're all made up a unmarried standard identity which isn't 0 dimentional like a particle, yet is a million dimentional referred to as a string. Strings can vibrate and artwork jointly as connect to at least one yet another and be closed or detach and be open. each and each particle with a particular mass would properly be defined by a string in a particular state of vibration it is as regards to the mass of that particle by E=mc^2. So if the string is vibrating with a more desirable frequency, it signifies that it is representing a particle with a more desirable mass. So merely by replacing the state of vibration of the strings, you are able to make different debris from strings. each and each of the fields and debris of nature are created from those vibrating strings! Shortest precis about string theory, achievable for me!!

Answer 5

I believe string "theory" proponents are confident that at some point they'll have the technology and the insight to prove or disprove it. That makes it a theory. Just because it can't be tested with current technology/methodologies doesn't mean it is impossible to verify, like 10 billion years ago there was a really bad alien emperor.

Answer 6

You are absolutely right.
I hardly know string theory; but maybe with it can be made a prediction, that can come true. In that case string theory is an affirmed theory.
The same problems we see in astronomy and cosmology.

Answer 7

A theory is an idea to explain one or many things. A philosphy is a way of doing somthing.

Answer 8

A theory can be proved or disproved eventually, whereas philosophy is really just opinion.