The Pyramid and the Ring

Publication information:

2006. “The Pyramid and the Ring”

Abstract

On the restructuring of physics in modern times. Certain branches of research that are generally thought to be physics are not considered part of the discipline by some scientists. For example, string theory is accused of being too far from experiment and closer to mathematics or philosophy than physics, and nanoscience is accused of being too close to engineering and not basic enough to be physics. The discipline of physics is changing, moving from a pyramid-like structure with fundamental physics at the top, to something more like a ring, with connected parts but no universally accepted center.

Full text

On the restructuring of physics in modern times. Certain branches of research that are generally thought to be physics are not considered part of the discipline by some scientists. For example, string theory is accused of being too far from experiment and closer to mathematics or philosophy than physics, and nanoscience is accused of being too close to engineering and not basic enough to be physics. The discipline of physics is changing, moving from a pyramid-like structure with fundamental physics at the top, to something more like a ring, with connected parts but no universally accepted center.
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