String Theory - Nomological Unification and the Epicycles of the Quantum Field Theory Paradigm

TL;DR

String Theory, rooted in quantum field theory and metaphysical unification ideas, fails to resolve quantum gravity conflicts and lacks predictive power, exemplifying the paradigm's limitations and the need for new approaches.

Contribution

This paper critically analyzes String Theory's conceptual and technical shortcomings, highlighting its inability to solve quantum gravity issues and its reliance on unmotivated epicycles within the existing paradigm.

Findings

String Theory remains perturbative and background-dependent.

It cannot reproduce the Standard Model.

It leads to a landscape of multiple low-energy scenarios.

Abstract

String Theory is the result of the conjunction of three conceptually independent elements: (i) the metaphysical idea of a nomological unity of the forces, (ii) the model-theoretical paradigm of Quantum Field Theory, and (iii) the conflict resulting from classical gravity in a quantum world. String Theory is sometimes assumed to solve this conflict: by means of an application of the model-theoretical apparatus of (perturbative) Quantum Field Theory. But, String Theory does not really solve the conflict. Rather it exemplifies the inadequacy of this model-theoretical apparatus in the context of Quantum Gravity: After several decades of development it still exists only in an essentially perturbative formulation (with minor non-perturbative extensions and vague ideas with regard to a possible non-perturbative formulation). And, due to its quantum field theoretical heritage, it is conceptually incompatible with central implications of General Relativity, especially those resulting from the general relativistic relation between gravity and spacetime. All known formulations of String Theory are background-dependent. On the other hand, it was not even possible to reproduce the Standard Model. Instead, String Theory led to a multitude of internal problems - and to the plethora of low-energy scenarios with different nomologies and symmetries, known as the String Landscape. All attempts to find a dynamically motivated selection principle remained without success, leaving String Theory without any predictive power. The nomological unification of the fundamental forces is only achieved in a purely formal way within the model-theoretical paradigm of Quantum Field Theory - by means of physically unmotivated epicycles like higher dimensionality, Calabi-Yau spaces, branes, etc.