Re: Algebraic Geometry and Algebraic Topology in Physics Pro-and-Con Critique 2
- From: "OsherD" <mdoctorow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 4 Feb 2006 22:42:55 -0800
From Osher Doctorow mdoctorow@xxxxxxxxxxx
The physics theories which use algebraic geometry and algebraic
topology are mainly Superstring/Brane theory and their
modifications/generalizations and Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG).
What could be the (probable) causes of this rather curious scenario?
Arguably they include:
A. A subconscious or conscious "weeding out" of most physicists and
mathematicians because physics facility with algebraic geometry and/or
algebraic topology almost requires a Ph.D. in physics, a Ph.D. in the
algebraic branch of mathematics, and a Ph.D. in the geometry and/or
topology branch of mathematics. Very seldom before the era of
Superstring and LQG fads did even any mathematician specialize in more
than one branch of mathematics because of the enormous amount of
Knowledge in each branch.
B. A scarcity of informed criticism among "peers" to publications
involving algebraic geometry or topology with physical applications
because of A above, which again makes it easier to be accepted for
publication with a rather small in-group.
C. A lack of interest in cause-and-effect compared to the interest in
imitation. This prevents many people from going into cause-effect
exploration fields like Probable Influence/Causation and even
conditional probability-statistics, although in the latter case there
is some Mainstream acceptance so imitation has helped that field - but
its effectiveness is far less than Probable Influence/Causation.
Likewise for logic including Fuzzy Multivalued Logics (FMLs).
D. Confusion about Complexity vs Simplicity. The majority of
theoretical physicists and mathematical physicists arguably prefer
Complexity to Simplicity, and thus favor complicated algebraic topology
and algebraic geometry over probability-statistics, logic,
combinatorics/number theory/arithmetic, control/feedback theory,
experiment, analysis, differential equations, or even geometry or
topology by themselves.
E. Historical "coincidences". The prestige of the physics algebraist
Werner Heisenberg weighted heavily in the direction of algebra, and
curiously enough John von Neumann's influence also did with a somewhat
different crowd (on von Neumann's imitative tendencies, I've posted on
them in the past here and elsewhere including the Mathematical History
subforum of Math Forum). Artificial Intelligence (AI) across
engineering, operations research, probability-statistics, and other
fields also heavily resisted competition in probability (almost
unanimously preferring Bayesian conditional probability to Probable
Influence/Causation for example) and logic and other fields and made
alliances with other departments for power and influence in this
respect.
F. Deliberate control of scientific and engineering research by
governments and large corporations. Arguably bureaucrats, who dominate
in both governments and large corporations, are really Ingenious
Imitators rather than Creative Geniuses, and they tend to follow the
Mainstream in A-E both consciously and subconsciously. Some of them
are Plurality-Oriented bureaucrats, while others are "Number One/Me
First" bureaucrats (not pro-Individual bureaucrats, since they only
recognize one Individual, themselves) who nevertheless peddle
"teamwork" as a form of pseudo-religion to "hypnotize" others to work
for them.
Osher Doctorow
.
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