While we can appreciate Dr. Stephen Hawking’s previous contributions in the area of theoretical physics, it appears his affirmations have overstepped his knowledge. Dr. Hawking has made the news lately as excerpts of his upcoming book, The Grand Design, have been published. He has been quoted as saying that there is no need for God to create the universe because the universe can be created from nothing. He is quoted as saying “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist," Certainly he could not mean that the universe pops into existence from absolutely nothing. This would defy basic logical principles; nothing + nothing = nothing. An uncaused cause is a logical absurdity. Elsewhere he affirms that the natural laws like gravity were eternally existent. However, he merely moves the problem. WHY do the natural laws allow for spontaneous creation? WHERE did the natural laws come from? HOW did the initial energy come to be that started the universe.
Dr. Hawking also talks about the multiple universe theory (mulitverse). In a previous blog I have written about the dubious nature of this theory. At least we can say this, there is absolutely no evidence of multiple universes and as such it is not science. In fact the multiverse theory affirms that other universes cannot be detected. As such it is not verifiable and not falsifiable and is therefore not science.
The book The Grand Design tries to address the obvious fact that, at least, the universe appears to be designed for human life. I have also written about this in previous blogs. Those who are predisposed to reject intelligent design are now rather tongue-tied in explaining the fine-tuning of the universe which even the atheist physicist observes. I actually welcome this book since it will bring to the public attention something that has not been focused on before, namely, the fine-tuning of the universe and the improbable events that had to occur such that life exists at all.
One thing that all readers of Dr. Hawking should recognize is that he has stepped away from actual science and into metaphysical speculation. While physicists have done a admirable job in creating models and predicting the behaviour of matter and energy, they still have not even approached the underlying ontology of matter and energy. We look back into the history of science and laugh at some of the theories that have now been thrown away. In wondering which one of today’s theories will be laughed at in the future, I think we have just found the answer.
Dr. Hawking also talks about the multiple universe theory (mulitverse). In a previous blog I have written about the dubious nature of this theory. At least we can say this, there is absolutely no evidence of multiple universes and as such it is not science. In fact the multiverse theory affirms that other universes cannot be detected. As such it is not verifiable and not falsifiable and is therefore not science.
The book The Grand Design tries to address the obvious fact that, at least, the universe appears to be designed for human life. I have also written about this in previous blogs. Those who are predisposed to reject intelligent design are now rather tongue-tied in explaining the fine-tuning of the universe which even the atheist physicist observes. I actually welcome this book since it will bring to the public attention something that has not been focused on before, namely, the fine-tuning of the universe and the improbable events that had to occur such that life exists at all.
One thing that all readers of Dr. Hawking should recognize is that he has stepped away from actual science and into metaphysical speculation. While physicists have done a admirable job in creating models and predicting the behaviour of matter and energy, they still have not even approached the underlying ontology of matter and energy. We look back into the history of science and laugh at some of the theories that have now been thrown away. In wondering which one of today’s theories will be laughed at in the future, I think we have just found the answer.
