Book Reviewed: Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory and the Search for Unity in Physical Law for Unity in Physical Law by Peter Woit

A quarrel with physicists being lost in math This is an interesting book by the Columbia University physicist Peter Woit who started a war of words with string physics community. String theory is purely mathematical and speculative that lacks testable predictions. The theory is largely unverified despite that it attempts to unify theory of relativity (physical reality at large scales) and quantum physics (physical reality at subatomic scales). The quantum field theory explains the behavior of elementary particles, and three of the four forces of nature. The Einstein’s general relativity explains the fourth force, gravity that becomes relevant at much larger scales. These two theories are logically and mathematically incompatible. String theory proposes to solve this problem by replacing elementary particles with strings as nature’s most fundamental entities. Therefore a “Theory of Everything” was needed to fully describe the physical reality we observe and experience. But string theory, unlike Einstein’s relativity, is not a specific set of equations, but rather a framework, or a class of equations of a particular style. Since string theory is not experimentally verified, the author calls this a failure, and criticize this as arrogance of physicists for promoting this for the last four decades. He has urged federal agencies like the National Science Foundation to cut funding for research in string physics. After more than a decade, he still thinks string theory is a gory mess. Most string theorists have gone back to their work undeterred by Woit’s criticism. Some compared him to a terrorist and even called an “incompetent, power-thirsty moron” and a “stuttering crackpot-in-chief.” This is an odd mix of intellectual jousting. His moderated weblog on string theory and other topics titled "Not Even Wrong" is still active on his Columbia University webpage. It continues to be widely read by physicists and mathematicians and still open for debate. Part of the book feeds on drama. Superstring theory explains things like multiverse and brings in new ideas for the fact that space and time is not limited to one universe such as ours. Space can expand and contract at much faster speed than the speed of light, and it does not require energy for its expansion. In addition, mathematical correspondence discovered by Princeton physicist Juan Maldacena implies that string theory has deep mathematical connections to quantum field theory. Peter Woit doesn’t give enough credit to a whole bunch of interesting things about quantum field theories that we’ve learned from string theory. I caution that some of the chapters are technical but there is also interesting take-home message from this book. His most recent blog written on Marc h 24, 2021 still makes an interesting point.

Practicing bhakti (devotion) in the worship of Lord Krishna This is a book of 688 pages that describes the teachings of Bhagavata Purana, one of the most commented texts in Hindu literature. This sacred text teaches that bhakti (devotion), the unconditional love for Lord Vishnu, or his reincarnation Krishna as most fundamental to find salvation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The Sanskrit scripture consists of twelve books (skandhas) with 332 chapters that comprises 16,000 to 18,000 verses depending on the recension. The tenth book, with about 4,000 verses is the most popular and widely studied with the philosophical implications of Vedanta, Yoga, and Samkhya. The author offers an introduction to the definition and practices of bhakti, provides translations of key tales and some popular stories from Krishna and other reincarnations of Lord Vishnu. The original text is filled with prayers, hymns of praise, and narratives aimed at inculcating a devotional sensibility in its followers. The key feature of this book is the description of bhakti yoga, an offering the unconditional love for Krishna. In fact, this is one of three spiritual paths taught in the Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavata Purana, like other puranas, discusses cosmology, astronomy, genealogy, geography, legends & tales, but it also presents a form of religion (dharma) as an alternative to Vedas, wherein bhakti leads to self-knowledge, bliss, and complete unification with the Supreme Lord. The often-quoted verses from Bhagavata Purana 1.3.38-41 are used by the followers of Hare Krishna movement. The Gaudiya tradition of Vaishnavism, founded by Chaitanya (1486–1533), is one of the popular schools in Western hemisphere that inspired the founding of ISKCON (Hare Krishna organization) by Srila Prabhupada. There are several other traditions that interpret this purana differently. For example, the Warkari-tradition (worship of Vitoba and Rukmini) is another tradition of Vaishnavas with notable saints like Jñāneśvar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath, and Tukaram. The Ramanandi tradition emphasizes the worship of Rama and Vishnu, but all Vaishnava sects considers Bhagavad-Gita and Bhagavata purana as the two major texts sacred to their belief system. The Bhagavata Purana is known to be founded on the principles of Vedanta, Yoga and Samkhya philosophies. Eminent commentators belonging to these schools have interpreted that this purana that supports their school of thought. Of these the oldest and the most respectable annotator is Sridhara Swami of Advaita Vedanta, Sukadeva of BhedaBheda Vedanta, Vallabhacharya of Shuddha Advaita Vedanta and Srila Prabhupada supporting Dvaita School of Vedanta. Other interesting features of this Mahapurana are the tales of dying that explores many-sided images of death and dissolution. King Yayati seeking to curb aging; the epic heroine, Savitri, refusing to accept her husband’s death, rescues him from Yama, the Lord of Death; and demon kings like Ravana and Hiranyakasipu strive for immortality by drinking amrta (sacred drink of eternity). Another section of significance is the Uddhava-Gita (Hamsa-Gita), the message of which is the same as Bhagavad-Gita is a part of this purana. This is the direct teaching of a Master (Krishna) to His disciple Uddhava who had no other aim in life but to attain union with Him. It is a unique confluence of poetic imagery, eclectic philosophy, and religious mystery. The English translation of Bhagavata Purana by Srila Prabhupada has many similarities to the translation by Bibek Debroy. And this book is strongly influenced by the interpretation of Srila Prabhupada and bhakti movement of Hare Krishna organization. I recommend other works by Indian scholars like Surendranath Dasgupta, G. P. Bhatt, J. L. Shastri, and G.V. Tagare published in the “Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology” series for an unbiased and broader view of Bhagavata Purana.