Anyone read Dirac's new biography, and how does it apply....

[whazzit]

... to the electric universe?

Thanks in advance for any comments, insights.

[earls]

Link to what you're talking about?

Dunno if this is it, but it sounds like a pretty good book regardless:

http://www.amazon.com/Strangest-Man-Hid ... 898&sr=8-1

I think I'm going to pick it up for $3.50...

[whazzit]

Yes, it was the Strangest Man. Quite good, explains the insights into how Dirac developed his quantum theories. Talk about eccentric though.

Dirac was depressed at the end of his life, saying he had wasted his time. So I'm wondering, is most of what passes for physics completely BS, though it approximates reality. And would an electric universe theorem actually describe the quantum world, as Dirac had hoped to achieve.

[earls]

"though it approximates reality"

That's particle physics for you.

It's quite interesting that so many "geniuses" are "depressed" at the end of their life.

Then again, it should come as no surprise -- all that work just so society can bastardize your labor into an "approximation". I'd be depressed too -- oh wait, I am.

[Komorikid]

I learnt to distrust all physical concepts as the basis for a theory. Instead one should put one's trust in a mathematical scheme, even if the scheme does not appear at first sight to be connected with physics. One should concentrate on getting interesting mathematics.

Dirac 1977

Is it any wonder he was so miserable in later life.
Reality is alway harshest on those who refuse to recognise her existence.

Reality Bites and Mathematics Blows

[CTJG 1986]

I learnt to distrust all physical concepts as the basis for a theory. Instead one should put one's trust in a mathematical scheme, even if the scheme does not appear at first sight to be connected with physics. One should concentrate on getting interesting mathematics.

Dirac 1977

Is it any wonder he was so miserable in later life.
Reality is alway harshest on those who refuse to recognise her existence.

Reality Bites and Mathematics Blows

Well, that just spared me from wasting money on the book, so thanks.

Last time I checked physics was the study of the physical universe and someone proposing that we ignore the physical universe and rely on math alone to construct our theories to explain it is just downright retarded in my view.

I have seen some of his work and don't deny that he was a brilliant man in many regards, but that statement proves that even a genius can fall victim to stupidity.

Math is meant to be used to describe the physical world, it is not what the physical world is made out of. While starting with a physical concept and using mathematics to describe it is just fine basing the entire theory on mathematics is not fine at all, it is wholly unphysical and unscientific.

Everything that has been and will be said here in this regard has been heard many times before but it can never be said enough as there are still way too many people who do not get it.