Well it's important to state that there is a distinct difference between scientific theory and hypothesis so that the layman won't say ridiculous shit like "well, you know man...that's just like...a theory">> ^Yogi:

>> ^rottenseed:
I do know its mislabeled. I don't think there's enough supporting evidence to consider it anything other than a hypothesis.>> ^Yogi:
"I don't know enough about the string hypothesis to have an opinion either way."
I've read Brian Greene's book on String Theory...I still don't know enough about it to have an opinion.


Words don't not mean notfing to me.

>> ^rottenseed:

I do know its mislabeled. I don't think there's enough supporting evidence to consider it anything other than a hypothesis.>> ^Yogi:
"I don't know enough about the string hypothesis to have an opinion either way."
I've read Brian Greene's book on String Theory...I still don't know enough about it to have an opinion.



Words don't not mean notfing to me.

I do know its mislabeled. I don't think there's enough supporting evidence to consider it anything other than a hypothesis.>> ^Yogi:

"I don't know enough about the string hypothesis to have an opinion either way."
I've read Brian Greene's book on String Theory...I still don't know enough about it to have an opinion.

"I don't know enough about the string hypothesis to have an opinion either way."

I've read Brian Greene's book on String Theory...I still don't know enough about it to have an opinion.

Here are the lyrics for you sing-alongers out there:

Lyrics:

[Michael Shermer]
Science is the best tool ever devised
For understanding how the world works

[Jacob Bronowski]
Science is a very human form of knowledge
We are always at the brink of the known

[Carl Sagan]
Science is a collaborative enterprise
Spanning the generations
We remember those who prepared the way
Seeing for them also

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]
If you're scientifically literate,
The world looks very different to you
And that understanding empowers you

Refrain:
[Richard Dawkins]
There's real poetry in the real world
Science is the poetry of reality

[Sagan]
We can do science
And with it, we can improve our lives

[Jill Tarter]
The story of humans is the story of ideas
That shine light into dark corners

[Lawrence Krauss]
Scientists love mysteries
They love not knowing

[Richard Feynman]
I don't feel frightened by not knowing things
I think it's much more interesting

[Brian Greene]
There's a larger universal reality
of which we are all apart

[Stephen Hawking]
The further we probe into the universe
The more remarkable are the discoveries we make

[Carolyn Porco]
The quest for the truth, in and of itself,
Is a story that's filled with insights

(Refrain)

[Greene]
From our lonely point in the cosmos
We have through the power of thought
Been able to peer back to a brief moment
After the beginning of the universe

[PZ Myers]
I think that science changes the way your mind works
To think a little more deeply about things

[Dawkins]
Science replaces private predjudice
With publicly verifiable evidence

(Refrain)

the few books i've read (and thoroughly enjoyed) that are somewhat science oriented are Richard Dawkins - Unweaving The Rainbow and Victor J. Stenger - GOD The Failed Hypothesis.
i'm currently struggling thru Daniel C Dennett's Darwin's Dangerous Idea
and i just picked up Brian Greene's The Fabric Of The Cosmos yesterday, haven't gotten too far into it but, so far so good.

Thanks for the clarification. In that regard, I am glad to have upvoted.

In reply to this comment by enoch:
In reply to this comment by KnivesOut:
Wish I hadn't upvoted. I thought this was a clip from the original show. The running marquee across the bottom is subjective bullshit.

that was my point in posting.the poster seems to be attempting to merge his religion with science.i found it interesting but many conflicts like that interest me.i totally agree with you on elegant universe being a fantastic show,brian greene does a great job.

*edit* just noticed,gratz on the silver bud!

never see Maher and physicist Brian Greene in the same room together

^ I'm reading a book right now called: The Fabric of the Cosmos" by, Brian Greene. It's sort of a "dumbed down" physics text. (using examples from The Simpsons no less) I think the general consensus is that either spacetime is infinite or curved. In either case, it would have no edge. Of course if it does have an edge, we can't see it anyway which just leaves it up to your imagination. More universes? Green cheese?

I'm all with rotten on this one though. I love to think of the idea that our observable universe is just part of a molecule in an even bigger one.

Or maybe it's curved just the right way so that WE are that molecule. Maybe if we can observe smaller and smaller and smaller objects, one day we'll just see ourselves staring back?

The Elegant Universe is the title of one of Brian Greene's awesome, easily digestible *books on state of the art physics. This special was comprised of the best bits of that book.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'pbs, elegant universe, part 3' to 'pbs, elegant universe, part 3, physics, string theory, Brian Greene' - edited by mauz15

Thanks very much. It was rather spirited, wasn't it?

The next time I feel like a fight, I'll post another Mormon video and I'll let you know so that you can throw some punches of your own.

I like the comment that you made about religion on the Sift. It's too true. I guess I just posted the video because I suddenly couldn't take it anymore. I believe that spiritual people can be scientific and rational, as well. I certainly think myself a rational human being, but I also have a good deal of faith.

In reply to this comment by snoozedoctor:
Good grief, sorry I totally missed this debate. What a spirited and brave defense. Next time, I'll be riding shotgun.

One of my comments on a Sift about "Why campaign against religion."

"I'm impressed by the amount of vitriol against religion on the Sift. I guess many of you haven't had the good fortune to be involved in moderate, religious activism. That is, activism that's about helping people less fortunate than ourselves without trying to whack them on the head with a crucifix. I'm a religious scientist. People here act as if the two are mutually exclusive, whereas they most certainly are not, Einstein being a notable example (not necessarily ascribing to an organized faith, but rather belief in a supreme diety.) Same with Brian Greene of string theory.
The people I worship with wear blue jeans, we play loud rock and roll music and we actively provide charity to Rwanda. When you lump Christians, Muslims, etc. into the same mold you display all the prejudice you rail against. Sorry, but true."

Good grief, sorry I totally missed this debate. What a spirited and brave defense. Next time, I'll be riding shotgun.

One of my comments on a Sift about "Why campaign against religion."

"I'm impressed by the amount of vitriol against religion on the Sift. I guess many of you haven't had the good fortune to be involved in moderate, religious activism. That is, activism that's about helping people less fortunate than ourselves without trying to whack them on the head with a crucifix. I'm a religious scientist. People here act as if the two are mutually exclusive, whereas they most certainly are not, Einstein being a notable example (not necessarily ascribing to an organized faith, but rather belief in a supreme diety.) Same with Brian Greene of string theory.
The people I worship with wear blue jeans, we play loud rock and roll music and we actively provide charity to Rwanda. When you lump Christians, Muslims, etc. into the same mold you display all the prejudice you rail against. Sorry, but true."

>> ^snoozedoctor:
I'm impressed by the amount of vitriol against religion on the Sift. I guess many of you haven't had the good fortune to be involved in moderate, religious activism.

Actually, I was raised in a rather moderate/liberal branch of UCC.

People here act as if the two are mutually exclusive, whereas they most certainly are not, Einstein being a notable example (not necessarily ascribing to an organized faith, but rather belief in a supreme diety.)

Read the first chapter of the God Delusion. Einstein did not beleive in a personal god. Maybe you could describe his beliefs as pantheism, which definitely does not include the idea of prayer. As Carl Sagan said, it makes no sense to pray to the law of gravity.


Same with Brian Greene of string theory.

String Theory should be regarded as a pseudoscience until such time as it actually makes a testable prediction that differs from the standard model. String Theory reminds me of taking a beautiful formula and splitting it up into a fourier series.

Greene is a demagogue, getting so enthusiastic about popularizing an idea before there's actually any evidence for it.

The people I worship with wear blue jeans, we play loud rock and roll music and we actively provide charity to Rwanda.

I'll bet that a lot of members of the Flat Earth Society do too. If a larger percentage of Flat Earth Society members help Rwanda than the general public, does that justify promoting the belief that the Earth is flat? No. You have to distinguish between the sugar-coating and the bullshit at the core.

When you lump Christians, Muslims, Buddists, etc. into the same mold you display all the prejudice you rail against. Sorry, but true.

Buddhism is an agnostic philosophy, not really a religion.

The core problem that all religions posess is a reliance on faith, which is an epistemological vulnerability.

The core teachings of Buddhism recognize (even exaggerate) tentativeness of all knowledge, unlike the dogmas of almost every other religion.

I'm impressed by the amount of vitriol against religion on the Sift. I guess many of you haven't had the good fortune to be involved in moderate, religious activism. That is, activism that's about helping people less fortunate than ourselves without trying to whack them on the head with a crucifix. I'm a religious scientist. People here act as if the two are mutually exclusive, whereas they most certainly are not, Einstein being a notable example (not necessarily ascribing to an organized faith, but rather belief in a supreme diety.) Same with Brian Greene of string theory.
The people I worship with wear blue jeans, we play loud rock and roll music and we actively provide charity to Rwanda. When you lump Christians, Muslims, etc. into the same mold you display all the prejudice you rail against. Sorry, but true.