弦论的五个哲学追问
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摘要
弦论是当前物理学研究的核心议题之一,它被认为是迄今为止最有希望统一宇宙万物的科学理论。然而,由于弦论长期未能得到实验的证实,其自洽性、完备性和真实性也一直为人们所质疑。但弦论所具有的特殊理论内涵却引发了令人深思的哲学追问,它们包括:经验对于科学而言是必须的吗?不可观察是否构成反实在论的不充分论证说?实验和理论孰先孰后?科学与非科学的划界标准是什么?物质和精神的二元分离是否能最终统一?这些哲学追问也将弦论指向了一种全新的科学认识论和方法论,对我们开展科学研究有重要的指导意义。
String theory is one of the core topics in current physics research. It is considered to be the most hopeful scientific theory to unify the universe currently until now. However,since string theory has not been proved by experiments for a long time,its consistency,completeness and authenticity have always been inquired. But the special theoretical connotation of string theory has aroused deep philosophical inquires. They include: is experience necessary for science? Whether"not observable"constitutes an incomplete argument of anti-realism? Experiment and the theory,which is prior? What is the criteria of demarcation between science and non-science? Could the duality of material and spirit be unified finally? These philosophical inquires also bring string theory to a completely new scientific methodology and epistemology,which has important guiding significance for us to carry out scientific research.
String theory is one of the core topics in current physics research. It is considered to be the most hopeful scientific theory to unify the universe currently until now. However,since string theory has not been proved by experiments for a long time,its consistency,completeness and authenticity have always been inquired. But the special theoretical connotation of string theory has aroused deep philosophical inquires. They include: is experience necessary for science? Whether"not observable"constitutes an incomplete argument of anti-realism? Experiment and the theory,which is prior? What is the criteria of demarcation between science and non-science? Could the duality of material and spirit be unified finally? These philosophical inquires also bring string theory to a completely new scientific methodology and epistemology,which has important guiding significance for us to carry out scientific research.
引文
[1]David,R. Scientific Realism in the Age of String Theory[J]. Physics&Philosophy,2003.
[2]Schlick,M. Meaning and Verification[J]. The Philosophical Review,1936,45(4):341.
[3]卡尔·波普尔.科学发现的逻辑[M].查汝强,等译.中国美术出版社,2008.
[4]Matsubara K. Realism,Underdetermination and String Theory Dualities[J]. Synthese,2013,190(3):471.
[5]Read,J. The Interpretation of String-Theoretic Dualities[J].Foundations of Physics,2014,46(2):7.
[6]Lei Ma. Many-Worlds,Self and Dreams[J]. Open Journal of Philosophy,2017,7:353-376.
[7]布赖恩·格林.宇宙的琴弦[M].李泳,译.湖南科学技术出版社,2011.
[8]Butterfield,J.,Isham,C. Spacetime and the Philosophical Challenge of the Quantum Gravity[M]//C. Callender,N. Huggett(ed.). Physics meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale. Cambridge University Press,2000:36.
[9]桂起权,沈健.物理学哲学研究[M].武汉大学出版社,2013:223.
[10]萨米尔·奥卡沙.科学哲学[M].韩广忠,译.南京:译林出版社,2013.
[11]Hacking,I. Representing and Intervening:Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science[M]. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,1983.
[12]陈向群,马雷.实验优位还是理论优位?——哈金新实验主义思想简评[J].自然辩证法研究,2016(1).
[13]李醒民.划界问题或科学划界[J].社会科学,2010(3).
(1)图1和图2分别摘自布赖恩·格林.宇宙的琴弦[M].李泳,译.湖南科学技术出版社,2011:58,59.
[2]Schlick,M. Meaning and Verification[J]. The Philosophical Review,1936,45(4):341.
[3]卡尔·波普尔.科学发现的逻辑[M].查汝强,等译.中国美术出版社,2008.
[4]Matsubara K. Realism,Underdetermination and String Theory Dualities[J]. Synthese,2013,190(3):471.
[5]Read,J. The Interpretation of String-Theoretic Dualities[J].Foundations of Physics,2014,46(2):7.
[6]Lei Ma. Many-Worlds,Self and Dreams[J]. Open Journal of Philosophy,2017,7:353-376.
[7]布赖恩·格林.宇宙的琴弦[M].李泳,译.湖南科学技术出版社,2011.
[8]Butterfield,J.,Isham,C. Spacetime and the Philosophical Challenge of the Quantum Gravity[M]//C. Callender,N. Huggett(ed.). Physics meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale. Cambridge University Press,2000:36.
[9]桂起权,沈健.物理学哲学研究[M].武汉大学出版社,2013:223.
[10]萨米尔·奥卡沙.科学哲学[M].韩广忠,译.南京:译林出版社,2013.
[11]Hacking,I. Representing and Intervening:Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science[M]. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,1983.
[12]陈向群,马雷.实验优位还是理论优位?——哈金新实验主义思想简评[J].自然辩证法研究,2016(1).
[13]李醒民.划界问题或科学划界[J].社会科学,2010(3).
(1)图1和图2分别摘自布赖恩·格林.宇宙的琴弦[M].李泳,译.湖南科学技术出版社,2011:58,59.