Quantization, String Theory

[lmf]

@alanforr

I would say that a theory consists of an explanation as well as some way of making predictions like an equation of motion.

I don’t disagree with that.

@alanforr

If an equation of motion is part of a fully quantum mechanical theory then that whole package would be fully quantum mechanical. You can’t entirely cleanly separate the explanation and the equations but you might be able to arrive at the same equation in more than one way.

Ohhh, I think I understand now. The way in which the quantum equations of motion (or whatever) were derived is part of the theory, because it’s an explanation of why we’re considering those equations of motion and not some other equations of motion. If quantization is part of that explanation, then the theory in question is only partially quantum mechanical.

I no longer think that this is an absurd definition.

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I am still not convinced that it’s a problem that our theories are only partially quantum mechanical. Could you explain in simple terms why you think it’s bad?

(I was originally going to respond to Deutsch’s paragraph, but I disagree with several different things he says and I don’t know which one to focus on).