We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
Stephen HawkingRead
What I have done is to show that it is possible for the way the universe began to be determined by the laws of science. In that case, it would not be necessary to appeal to God to decide how the universe began. This doesn't prove that there is no God, only that God is not necessary.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote illustrates that scientific laws can explain the universe's origin without invoking God.
Stephen Hawking's quote emphasizes the idea that the beginnings of the universe can be understood through scientific principles rather than requiring the existence of a deity to explain its inception. He posits that while this viewpoint does not dismiss the possibility of God, it suggests that belief in a God is not essential for explaining how the universe came into being.
Themes
UniverseScienceGodLawsExistence
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on cosmology, this quote can be used to highlight the scientific viewpoint of the universe's origins.
More from Stephen Hawking
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It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination. Its a crazy world out there. Be curious.
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I was not a good student. I did not spend much time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself.
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The world has changed far more in the past 100 years than in any other century in history. The reason is not political or economic but technological-technologies that flowed directly from advances in basic science. Clearly, no scientist better represents those advances than Albert Einstein: TIME's Person of the Century.
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In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
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