Empirical Equivalence, Scientific Realism and String Theory
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چکیده
The phenomenon of duality in string theory provides an example of the underdetermination of the theoretical scheme by all possible empirical data. Empirically equivalent theories which arise due to string dualities differ in essential characteristics like the dimension and the topological position of their elementary objects and the form and dimensionality of spacetime. The obvious ontological incompatibility of dual string theories and the status of the duality principle as a core concept of string physics reveal serious tensions between string theory and ontological realism.
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