Ian Murray wrote:
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>
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> If the social/financial costs of verifying string theory exceed the benefits
> to be gained to societies, then screw the physicists. The money is better
> spent studying human health, argicultural ecosystems, forest blights,
> atmospheric chemistry.
True -- but under present conditions that is an unreal either/or. The money is _not_ going to be spent for the latter research, whether or not it is spent on testing string theory. If/when masses get control of their societies your advice may get followed. It might or might not be good agitational material now, but I'm not sure how it can be used. It certainly won't affect research allocations.
Actually, we know enough about atmospheric chemistry; "we" just don't have the political power to do anything about it.
Carrol