By STEPHEN HAWKING And LEONARD MLODINOW
According to Viking mythology, eclipses occur when two wolves, Skoll and Hati, catch the sun or moon. At the onset of an eclipse people would make lots of noise, hoping to scare the wolves away. After some time, people must have noticed that the eclipses ended regardless of whether they ran around banging on pots.Ignorance of nature's ways led people in ancient times to postulate many myths in an effort to make sense of their world. But eventually, people turned to philosophy, that is, to the use of reason—with a good dose of intuition—to decipher their universe. Today we use reason, mathematics and experimental test—in other words, modern science.
Albert Einstein said, "The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible." He meant that, unlike our homes on a bad day, the universe is not just a conglomeration of objects each going its own way. Everything in the universe follows laws, without exception..."
"... For example, if we did not know the distance from the Earth to the sun, the fact that beings like us exist would allow us to put bounds on how small or great the Earth-sun separation could be. We need liquid water to exist, and if the Earth were too close, it would all boil off; if it were too far, it would freeze. That principle is called the "weak" anthropic principle.
The weak anthropic principle is not very controversial. But there is a stronger form that is regarded with disdain among some physicists. The strong anthropic principle suggests that the fact that we exist imposes constraints, not just on our environment, but on the possible form and content of the laws of nature themselves."
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He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.
ReplyDeleteAlbert Einstein
I am a deeply religious nonbeliever - this is a somewhat new kind of religion.
Albert Einstein
In the words of Jesse Ventura, "Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business."
ReplyDeleteHaving seen the TRILLIONS of hits that this article received on Facebook/CNN, I believe it hit quite a nerve with the organized religions of the world. Needless to say, modern sciences were probably not the focus of the discussions.
ReplyDeleteI find Hawking's thoughts fascinating. The universe is incomprehensible and that is what it so interesting. One thing that we can't grasp...that always slips away for the next generation to grapple.
I think one of Hawking's key points was much of the Universe IS Comprehensible to man applying Modern Science and not relaying on or exclusive of a supreme intelligence.
ReplyDeleteEinstein was also quoted on the potential of human intelligence.
Albert Einstein said, "The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible."
...that is indeed Hawkings point...and the Einstein quote was used for emphasis...ONE, NEO
ReplyDelete