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Re:I think string theories are wrong by gohrt on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @09:31PM (#9889211)
The motls blog claims that Smolin made provable mathematical errors in his book. Do you disagree?
Re:I think string theories are wrong by johncolanduoni on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @10:28PM (#9889378)
I cannot speak to the mathematical errors, but I recommend you take most of what Motl says with a grain of salt. He is well known in the physics and mathematics community for a variety of interesting statements, including my personal favorite: "Discrete math is just a disorganized mess of random statements." http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=1720 Which is interesting, because I have yet to see a construction of continuous mathematics that didn't start with something discrete.
Re:I think string theories are wrong by DougMerritt on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @10:46PM (#9889435)
Motl is an infamous pain, and makes enemies at the drop of the hat, and is extremely scornful and overly negative -- but he's also intelligent and knows mathematical physics.

I would disregard his unsupported opinions out of hand without thinking twice, but not his supported arguments, whether right or wrong.

Re:I think string theories are wrong by mjcohen on Wednesday July 15, 2015 @12:19AM (#9889689)
I would pay to see Motl and Doron Zeilberger in a cage match about discrete math: http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~zeilberg/
Re:I think string theories are wrong by hliyan on Tuesday July 14, 2015 @11:45PM (#9889594)
I have the book in front of me right now (I originally read it around 2007). It's very sparse on actual math: I couldn't find anything that could be considered a mathematical treatment of String Theory. It's more about the academic culture surrounding the theory.

Disclaimer: I'm not a physicist.