Can Someone Without Background Knowledge in Mathematics or Physics Comprehend Advanced Theories Such as String Theory and General Relativity?

It is a common belief that one must have a deep understanding of mathematics or physics to understand complex scientific theories. However, let's consider a few analogies:

Can someone who can't swim win an Olympic swimming gold medal? Can someone who has never played chess beat a grandmaster? Can someone who has never played football be a professional NFL football player?

Of course, the answer is no. These activities require specialized skills and knowledge to excel.

However, in my experience, the answer is a big yes. Here are two important points to consider:

1. Expressing Scientific Concepts Using Words

It is entirely possible to express a scientific concept using words exclusively, which can be just as accurate and truthful as using mathematics. By doing so, these concepts are no less valid. Words can convey the essence of a theory more intuitively and are often the starting point for understanding.

2. Validity of Mathematical Expressions

When a scientific concept is expressed mathematically, it can be incorrect or invalid to the same extent as if it were expressed with words. Thus, a mathematically expressed concept is not inherently more valid because of its form. Mathematical equations often convey an unwarranted aura of validity, especially to those who do not understand them, which makes them seem more accurate and reliable than they may actually be.

Equations can be easily manipulated to give any result desired. This fact is crucial in the field of mathematical physics, which is dedicated to cleaning up and verifying the many mathematical statements made in physics. Most mathematical theories in physics are faulty or completely incorrect.

Importance of Mathematics in Science

Mathematics in science is crucial because it provides a measurable, quantifiable statement that can be impartially assessed. This is why many scientific ideas are expressed mathematically, as this can inspire and galvanize new discoveries. However, the same can be said for well-expressed theories made with words rather than mathematics. We must not be intimidated or coerced into believing that a theory expressed mathematically is necessarily correct or true.

Challenges in Modern Physics

A good example of this is the mathematics used in Einsteinian relativity. Mathematicians have been trying for decades to understand, clean up, and verify the mathematics of relativity but have so far been unsuccessful. This is not surprising given the evidence that the mathematics of relativity is based on faulty foundations, false concepts, and wholly manipulated equations.

If a theory in physics cannot be explained simply using just words, it is likely to be faulty and baseless. Simplifying complex theories to their foundational concepts can help us understand them without needing a deep background in mathematics or physics.