This paper addresses the question as to whether the methodology followed in
building and assessing string theory can be considered scientific in the same
sense, say, that the methodology followed in building and assessing the
Standard Model of particle physics is scientific, by focussing on the
"founding" period of the theory. More precisely, its aim is to argue for a
positive answer to the above question (there is no real change of scientific
status in the way of proceeding and reasoning in fundamental physical research)
in the light of a historical analysis of the early developments of the string
theoretical framework.Comment: Contribution to the volume "Epistemology of Fundamental Physics: Why
Trust a Theory?", eds. R. Dawid, R. Dardashti, and K. Thebault, Cambridge
University Pres
