Mirror Symmetry and Other Miracles in Superstring Theory

TL;DR

The paper discusses how the mathematical success of string theory, exemplified by mirror symmetry, supports its validity through a 'no miracles' argument, despite lacking direct experimental evidence.

Contribution

It defends the philosophical argument that string theory's mathematical predictions, like mirror symmetry, serve as indirect evidence for its framework's correctness.

Findings

Mirror symmetry predictions are well-confirmed mathematical results.

String theory's mathematical fertility supports its scientific credibility.

Objections to the 'no miracles' argument are addressed but remain challenging.

Abstract

The dominance of string theory in the research landscape of quantum gravity physics (despite any direct experimental evidence) can, I think, be justified in a variety of ways. Here I focus on an argument from mathematical fertility, broadly similar to Hilary Putnam's 'no miracles argument' that, I argue, many string theorists in fact espouse. String theory leads to many surprising, useful, and well-confirmed mathematical 'predictions' - here I focus on mirror symmetry. These predictions are made on the basis of general physical principles entering into string theory. The success of the mathematical predictions are then seen as evidence for framework that generated them. I attempt to defend this argument, but there are nonetheless some serious objections to be faced. These objections can only be evaded at a high (philosophical) price.