Re: [Phys-l] About the "why" and "how" questions.

[William Robertson <wrobert9@ix.netcom.com>]

Here's the quote from A Brief History of Time. This quote comes after  
a discussion that we are coming ever closer to a complete unification  
theory. It is erroneous to think that scientists will ever be able to  
answer the ultimate "why" question (that is the province of religion),  
but that is what he implies.

"However, if we discover a complete theory, it should in time be  
understandable by everyone, not just by a few scientists. Then we  
shall all, philosophers, scientists and just ordinary people, be able  
to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we  
and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the  
ultimate triumph of human reason -- for then we should know the mind  
of God."


Bill



On Dec 22, 2010, at 1:38 PM, John Mallinckrodt wrote:

> William Robertson wrote:
>
> > I've already provided one glaring example, which is Hawking stating
> > (in so many words) the we (scientists) are on the verge of knowing
> > what God intended.
>
> I haven't read the book, but I'm quite sure that Hawking didn't say  
> anything even remotely like that.  As I understand it, Hawking  
> offered his opinion that there is no need for God to explain the  
> creation or subsequent evolution of the universe.  I suspect that  
> most scientists would agree with that--I certainly do--but I have  
> some limited sympathy for the proposition that it might have been  
> needlessly provocative.
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