Lost in Math? A review of 'Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray', by Sabine Hossenfelder

TL;DR

This review discusses Sabine Hossenfelder's book on how aesthetic biases like beauty influence physics research, highlighting issues in current theories and research organization, and providing critical perspectives on supersymmetry, naturalness, and the multiverse.

Contribution

The review critically analyzes Hossenfelder's arguments, emphasizing the need to question aesthetic criteria in fundamental physics and the organization of research.

Findings

Highlights the influence of aesthetic biases in physics

Critiques the reliance on supersymmetry and naturalness

Emphasizes the importance of questioning research paradigms

Abstract

This is a review of Hossenfelder's book, 'Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray'. The book gives a breezy exposition of the present situation in fundamental physics, and raises important questions: both about the content of the physics, and the way physics research is organized. I first state my main disagreements. Then, I mostly praise the book: I concentrate on Hossenfelder's discussion of supersymmetry, naturalness and the multiverse.