[Phys-L] Re: ID and string theory

[rmcder at PEOPLEPC.COM (R. McDermott)]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Smith" <larry.smith@SNOW.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 2:15 PM
Subject: ID and string theory


> At 11:08 AM -0600 8/24/05, Jim Green wrote:
> > There is as much "evidence" to support ID as there is to support string
> > theory and about an equal chance that anyone will devise a "scientific"
> > test to "prove" either.
>
> The AAPT says science is "the systematic enterprise of gathering knowledge
> about the world and organizing and condensing that knowledge into testable
> laws and theories."  Does string theory qualify?  More than ID?  Are ID
> and
> string theory on the same par as far as the definition of science is
> concerned?  Should we have a debate about teaching string theory in
> science
> class?

I see no problem with teaching string theory as long as you don't assert its
"correctness".  There's nothing wrong with extrapolating and coming up with
new ideas and theories so long as you don't confuse them with "fact".