The End Of Physics: The Myth Of A Unified Theory [Paperback]

David Lindley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465019765 | ISBN-13: 978-0465019762 | Publication Date: August 11, 1994

For more than a century physicists have hoped that they were closing in on the Holy Grail of modern science: a unified theory that would make sense of the entire physical world, from the subnuclear realm of quarks and gluons to the very moment of creation of the universe. The End of Physics is a history of the attempts to find such a “theory of everything”; a forceful argument it will never be found; and a warning that the compromises necessary to produce a final theory may well undermine the rules of good science.At the heart of Lindley’s story is the rise of the particle physicists and their attempts to reach far out into the cosmos for a unifying theory. Working beyond the grasp of the largest telescopes or the most powerful particle accelerators, and unable to subject their findings and theories to experimental scrutiny, they have moved into a world governed entirely by mathematical and highly speculative theorizing, none of which can be empirically verified. Lindley argues that a theory of everything derived from particle physics will be full of untested—and untestable—assumptions. And if physicists yield to such speculation, the field will retreat from the high ground of science, becoming instead a modern mythology. This would mean the end of physics as we know it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lindley, senior editor of Science magazine, writes about the 20th-century quest for a theory that will unify the fundamental forces of nature into one mathematics. Other such overviews, such as Brian Appleyard ' s Understanding the Present (Forecasts, Feb. 15), may be more thorough and incisive, but Lindley's study has rare expository grace and verve. The ambiguity of Lindley's title ( end as aim, or death; myth as illuminating metaphor, or unverifiable falsehood) captures the breadth and significance of the search for GUT. Readers with ambitions to actually understand Hawking, Weinberg, or other active physicists writing about the state of GUT will find this a good place to begin. Library of Science selection.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

When Lindley says ``myth,'' he means it not as a metaphor but literally: ``a story that makes sense within its own terms...but can be neither tested nor disproved.'' Such is the sorry pass he believes that particle physics has come to at the end of the 20th century. The quest for theories of everything--for the grand unification--has indeed becomes a ``holy grail'' that can cost time, money, and careers, all to no avail. That's the message brought by a messenger with credentials as a senior editor of Science as well as a Ph.D. in astronomy. Curiously, Lindley's apocalyptic vision has a parallel with one promulgated at the end of the last century, when physics was also thought to be coming to an end, but for different reasons: It was thought that the major discoveries had been made. This time, Lindley avers that it's the seduction of mathematical constructs unrelated to the real world that's doing physics in. To reach this conclusion, he summarizes all that the 20th century has wrought, from Einstein to Heisenberg to Fermilab, CERN, and the plan for the superconducting supercollider--a grand cathedral. (For an opposing view, see Steven Weinberg's Dreams of a Final Theory--Jan 1993.) Whether or not readers buy Lindley's judgment, they're well served by his first-rate exposition of the state of the science. The rub may lie in the eerie phenomenon by which the toys of mathematicians so often do turn out to be the tools that physicists use to construct--and demonstrate--the next paradigm. (Illustrations) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (August 11, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465019765
• ISBN-13: 978-0465019762
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #626,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars popular summary of the current physics and cosmology, December 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The End Of Physics: The Myth Of A Unified Theory (Paperback)

For those readers who were attracted to Tim Ferris's "Shebang", "The End of Physics" should provide a more realistic view of the problems in cosmology and particle physics. Although it was written 1992, it is still up to date in every way and in my opinion a better book than "Shebang" for the popular science reader. Ferris is more positive in outlook, less sceptical of the scientific process. Lindley claims more of an insider's view, is more comfortable with the math and and is able to take on some of the really difficult concepts by describing memorable visual models that will be very useful for anyone who may later attempt such uneven attempts at cosmology as Guth's new book on Inflation. Lindley's work trying to describe Higgs fields and quantum mechanics is especially brave. I only wish this book had the kind of budget that would have allowed more diagrams where they were needed(one point off)and it was so well written it could easily have been longer (another point off).However, the strength of the book is in the wise way he describes the scientific-theoretical process itself. In his view, the current theories lack the observational and experimental evidence that we normally expect from the scientific theories, scientists have embraced these theories because they can be so easily adjusted without ever being refuted.We have reached a watershed,perhaps, not an End of Physics where the lack of data may condemn the entire effort to an exercise that may never bear any relationship to reality. It is also very well written.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best of its Type, June 22, 2005

By 

Reader From Aurora - See all my reviews

This review is from: The End of Physics: The Myth of a Unified Theory (Hardcover)

David Lindley's The End of Physics is yet another excellent addition to the growing list of outstanding physics books. Lindley is a long time editor of Science magazine and accomplished author.

The book is a lucid and well-written text that provides an overview of recent developments in theoretical physics as well as an examination of what these developments mean. I found the author's discussion of general relativity and inflation to be particularly well handled - better than is often the case in these types of works. Lindley's exception strength, however, is his discussion of contemporary theoretical developments.

The quest for a comprehensive "Theory of Everything" has become the Holy Grail of modern physics. The meaning of any such theory, however, has not been the subjected of much popular discussion. Cutting-edge theoretical physics are complex and inundated with esoteric mathematical constructs. These formulations appear to be driven in large part by mathematical expediency rather than empirical evidence; resulting in models seem excessively contrived and ad hoc in nature. Variables appear to be arbitrarily adjusted to account for unwanted variance - leaving something that looks like a modern version of Ptolemy's universal model (a complex intellectual constructs that bare little resemblance to reality).

The only shortcoming of the book is its lack of a more direct discussion of philosophical issues pertaining to science. For instance, do mathematical and scientific theories represent reality in some "real" way or are they largely just useful metaphorical constructs. It has been my experience that scientific realism and an associated narrow verificationist view of truth are often unchallenged assumptions of philosophical modernism. Lindley talks around this question; however, a more direct discussion would be instructive. Is science the sole means of acquiring and testing knowledge? Upon examination it appears that we possess a range of logical and moral truths that are not obtained through scientific induction. Regardless of one's view this is an important, and often overlooked, question to ponder.

Overall, The End of Physics is an excellent book. It provides a good overview and discussion of modern developments in theoretical physics. I would recommend it to a general audience; however, it may be a bit dense of a starting point for someone with no exposure to quantum theory or cosmology.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who says physics can't be a page-turner?, September 26, 2001

By 

Bryce Wisan "brycedub" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The End Of Physics: The Myth Of A Unified Theory (Paperback)

Are the cosomologists correct, or is it the particle physicists? Does quantum theory really invalidate Einstein's deterministic universe? Is the concept of a 26-dimensional universe credible, or are we as enamored with numerology as those in times of yore? Can science provide us with more than a myth about the creation of the universe? Each new discovery seems to beg more questions.

The essence of this book is the tension that Lindley so magically captures--the tension between ideas, between scientists, and between philosophies. Lindley enthusiastically relates the drama; he catches the spirit and the excitement of discovery, as well as anxiety over some difficult unknowns.

This book is a thrilling ride through some of the most captivating intellectual territory of the 20th century. Do not be put off by the complex nature of the subject matter; this is one of the most accessible science books that I have read. The energy of the ideas certainly outweighs the challenges presented by the difficult subject matter.

This book is a great read for passionate learners.