In string theory, the mathematical formalism comes to function symbolically as the world itself. The symbols, equations, and internal structures are treated as if they fully capture reality, even when direct empirical instantiation is absent.
This symbolic reification is reinforced by community dynamics. Internal coherence, technical sophistication, and shared expertise create a social environment in which the theory maintains authority and legitimacy. Confidence in the mathematics substitutes for engagement with physical phenomena, and the symbolic object becomes the primary reference point for explanation, prediction, and discourse.
Recognising this reification is crucial for structural diagnosis: string theory illustrates the extreme case in which a symbolic system sustains itself independently of its relational connection to the world, highlighting patterns of authority, persistence, and internal elegance that recur across other theoretical domains.
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