I recently listened to Steven Hawking’s, ‘Brief Answers To The Big Questions’, then hit repeat and listened again.
The book was unfinished at the time of his death from motor neuron disease in 2018, so his colleagues and family assisted in finishing it off.
Hawking adeptly and humorously explained his beliefs based on science and the laws of nature, discussing where we come from, whether there is a god, how the universe began, the meaning and design behind it all, and whether there is anyone out there. He effectively presented these subjects in simple, accessible language without requiring the reader to hold a prerequisite in theoretical physics to listen.
The brilliant physicist, cosmologist, and humanitarian urges us to immediately embrace our planet’s sustainable development challenges and act out of common interest, not self-interest, later confessing to not holding a great deal of hope that humans will manage to unite and save the earth in time. He believes that travelling to space to discover another suitable habitat to colonise is crucial for the survival of the human race, though I doubt a new colony will change human nature.
Hawking’s beliefs on the future of AI, the legalities surrounding AI identity, and the need to align their values with human values confirmed my own fears (and those of Science Fiction authors) and added to them. There is much to consider.
While Stephen was physically limited to a wheelchair on Earth, his mind journeyed through the cosmos. He encouraged us to nurture our imaginations, referencing Einstein’s youthful vision of riding a light beam at just 16. This dream captivated Einstein for years, ultimately resulting in his special theory of relativity.
Difficult as it is in this era, we must collectively rally to chase light beams and strive to solve our most significant problems.
