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Author Topic:   Hawking Comes Clean
Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


Message 1 of 148 (578971)
09-03-2010 8:30 AM


''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.''
-Stephen Hawking
"THE Big Bang was the result of the inevitable laws of physics and did not need God to spark the creation of the universe, Stephen Hawking has concluded."
-Article
Sounds to me like Mr. Hawking has grown tired of trying to stay politically correct and pander to the religious in his public views on the beginnings of the universe.
This is all from his new book "The Grand Design".
Truth on his views?
Or simply advertising propaganda?
What do you think?
I think that, sure, it's just his say-so. But, when that "some guy" is, arguably, the smartest guy on the planet... it tends to carry a little weight

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by Rahvin, posted 09-03-2010 12:00 PM Stile has seen this message but not replied
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 Message 18 by mignat, posted 09-03-2010 2:14 PM Stile has replied
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Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


(1)
Message 23 of 148 (579096)
09-03-2010 3:46 PM
Reply to: Message 15 by cavediver
09-03-2010 1:22 PM


Natural and Deity-Free
cavediver writes:
If I observe that an applied force of 10N accelerates a mass of 1kg at 10ms-2, then I think I can state, without being accused of involving metaphysics, that I have no need for a "god" to explain this observation, nor indeed anything else outside Newtonian mechanics.
This is how I read the context.
After understanding some basic physics, it's pretty obvious that no angels are pushing the mass, and no God is involved in the process. It's pretty basic, natural, mundane and deity-free.
Hawking is saying that after understanding the advanced physics, it's pretty obvious that no God is involved in the process of creating the universe. To those educated in such matters, it is equally basic, natural, mundane and deity-free.
He's not saying he knows there's no God.
He's saying he knows that no God is involved in the maths required to create our universe. With as much confidence as us normal-folk have in saying that we know God is not involved in the maths required for us to use a lever to move a rock.
As even a general understanding of Newtonian mechanics can show us that there is no "strange area of the maths" where "something weird happens" and then the lever just works and the rock just moves... Hawking is saying there is no "strange area of the maths" where "something weird happens" and then universes start popping.
When the physical conditions are right for moving the rock (lever in correct location, and right strength)... the rock will move, always, the process is natural and deity-free.
When the physical conditions are right for universes to be created (gravity and other advanced physical-stuffs)... the universe will be created, always, the process is natural and deity-free.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by cavediver, posted 09-03-2010 1:22 PM cavediver has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by cavediver, posted 09-03-2010 4:06 PM Stile has seen this message but not replied

  
Stile
Member
Posts: 4295
From: Ontario, Canada
Joined: 12-02-2004


(1)
Message 26 of 148 (579100)
09-03-2010 3:55 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by mignat
09-03-2010 2:14 PM


Re: Hhhm, no he did what so many do.
mignat writes:
What tests did Hawking do to check what he says is true?
The ones reproduced by his colleagues.
What control did Hawking use?
The one verified by his colleagues.
If it wasn't reproduced and verified, even Hawking would be laughed out of physics for trying to place "opinion" above tests in science.
Ok, so the theory must be accepted as true until proven otherwise, must it. Cool. Can I make up my own theory and have it accepted as proven?
No, that's not how it works.
Hawking didn't just make up a theory. What do you think he's been doing for the last 40 years? Working on his imagination? He's been developing, testing and verifying a scientific theory.
It's not right because he says so. It's right because that's how the world works. If the world didn't work the way Hawking says it does, you'd know about it... I'm sure there are plenty of folks just dying to show where Hawking screwed up. After all, if they did, they could get a cameo in the next Star Trek series...

This message is a reply to:
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