| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"johac" |
| Date: |
12 Dec 2004 02:57:15 AM |
| Object: |
Interview with Stephen Hawking. |
From the NY Times
---
December 12, 2004
QUESTIONS FOR STEPHEN HAWKING
The Science of Second-Guessing
Interview by DEBORAH SOLOMON
Q What do you think was the most important physics idea to emerge this
year?
We won't know for a few years.
What about the recent discovery that teleportation of very small
particles is actually possible? Will we one day be able to whisk
ourselves through space the way they did on ''Star Trek''?
The ''Star Trek'' version is bogus, but there's a sense in which Hawking
radiation -- the light and particles that come out of black holes --
escapes by teleportation.
Speaking of black holes, you recently confessed that you had made an
error in your famous theory about them.
My discovery that black holes emit radiation raised serious problems of
consistency with the rest of physics. I have now resolved these
problems, but the answer turned out to be not what I expected.
Do you feel that scientists correct themselves as often as they should?
More often than politicians, but not as often as they should.
What is your I.Q.?
I have no idea. People who boast about their I.Q. are losers.
How can we know if you qualify as a genius physicist, as you are
invariably described?
The media need superheroes in science just as in every sphere of life,
but there is really a continuous range of abilities with no clear
dividing line.
Are you saying you are not a genius?
I hope I'm near the upper end of the range.
With all your intense erudition, why do you bother writing pop-science
books about the universe, the latest of which is the illustrated version
of ''On the Shoulders of Giants''?
I want my books sold on airport bookstalls.
Are you always this cheerful?
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.
Seriously, how do you keep your spirits up?
My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since
then has been a bonus.
Indeed, incurable motor-neuron disease has confined you to a wheelchair
and caused you to lose the ability even to speak. Is a computer your
only means of communication?
I use an on-screen software keyboard, called E Z KEYS. I access this
keyboard via a single button switch that I hold in my hand.
You have long been associated with Cambridge University, in England, and
I'm wondering whether you find Americans to be equally knowledegable
about science.
I have found far greater enthusiasm for science in America than here in
Britain. There is more enthusiasm for everything in America.
How can you say that? Just last month a Gallup poll found that only 35
percent of Americans accept Darwin's theory of evolution, while 45
percent prefer the creationist view.
Maybe it is because people in America have less sense of belonging to a
tradition and culture than in Europe, so they turn to fundamental
religion.
Do you believe in God?
I don't believe in a personal God.
What do you think of President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years?
Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you
don't have to bring them back.
Do you think people will ever live on a planet besides Earth?
Yes, if we don't self-destruct first.
What do you and your academic friends make of the debate over
embryonic-stem-cell research in this country?
In Britain, like most of the developed world, stem-cell research is
regarded as a great opportunity. America will be left behind if it
doesn't change policy.
Could stem-cell research help you at all?
Like Christopher Reeve, I'm very much in favor, but unlike he did, I
don't expect to benefit personally.
---
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12QUESTIONS.html?ex=1103518800
&en=7536da2517ac8bb5&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1
or:
http://tinyurl.com/4jprj
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently
in theVirgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened
nation?-Garry Wills, New York Times 11/04/04
.
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| User: "Pastor Ized" |
|
| Title: Re: Interview with Stephen Hawking. |
12 Dec 2004 04:40:54 AM |
|
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"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-328607.00571512122004@news.giganews.com...
From the NY Times
---
December 12, 2004
QUESTIONS FOR STEPHEN HAWKING
The Science of Second-Guessing
Interview by DEBORAH SOLOMON
Q What do you think was the most important physics idea to emerge this
year?
We won't know for a few years.
What about the recent discovery that teleportation of very small
particles is actually possible? Will we one day be able to whisk
ourselves through space the way they did on ''Star Trek''?
Juggling atoms around at these speeds may lead to a new and very fast
generation of computers.
Do you feel that scientists correct themselves as often as they should?
More often than politicians, but not as often as they should.
Unlike science, religeon is fixed in it's primitive origins.
I have found far greater enthusiasm for science in America than here in
Britain. There is more enthusiasm for everything in America.
How can you say that? Just last month a Gallup poll found that only 35
percent of Americans accept Darwin's theory of evolution, while 45
percent prefer the creationist view.
Scary!
Maybe it is because people in America have less sense of belonging to a
tradition and culture than in Europe, so they turn to fundamental
religion.
Do you believe in God?
I don't believe in a personal God.
What do you think of President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years?
Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you
don't have to bring them back.
Use fundies, the data they return may prove inaccurate but at least you
don't have to bring them back. :)
Do you think people will ever live on a planet besides Earth?
Yes, if we don't self-destruct first.
What do you and your academic friends make of the debate over
embryonic-stem-cell research in this country?
Ask a one week old embryo.
In Britain, like most of the developed world, stem-cell research is
regarded as a great opportunity. America will be left behind if it
doesn't change policy.
Could stem-cell research help you at all?
Like Christopher Reeve, I'm very much in favor, but unlike he did, I
don't expect to benefit personally.
.
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| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Interview with Stephen Hawking. |
12 Dec 2004 11:13:23 PM |
|
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In article <322lhsF3i2u47U1@individual.net>,
"Pastor Ized" <nobody@spamcop.net> wrote:
"johac" <jhachm@ixpres.com> wrote in message
news:jhachm-328607.00571512122004@news.giganews.com...
From the NY Times
---
December 12, 2004
QUESTIONS FOR STEPHEN HAWKING
The Science of Second-Guessing
Interview by DEBORAH SOLOMON
Q What do you think was the most important physics idea to emerge this
year?
We won't know for a few years.
What about the recent discovery that teleportation of very small
particles is actually possible? Will we one day be able to whisk
ourselves through space the way they did on ''Star Trek''?
Juggling atoms around at these speeds may lead to a new and very fast
generation of computers.
Micro$oft have probably stolen the patent by now.
Do you feel that scientists correct themselves as often as they should?
More often than politicians, but not as often as they should.
Unlike science, religeon is fixed in it's primitive origins.
As are many of it's adherents.
I have found far greater enthusiasm for science in America than here in
Britain. There is more enthusiasm for everything in America.
How can you say that? Just last month a Gallup poll found that only 35
percent of Americans accept Darwin's theory of evolution, while 45
percent prefer the creationist view.
Scary!
Indeed!
Maybe it is because people in America have less sense of belonging to a
tradition and culture than in Europe, so they turn to fundamental
religion.
Do you believe in God?
I don't believe in a personal God.
What do you think of President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years?
Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you
don't have to bring them back.
Use fundies, the data they return may prove inaccurate but at least you
don't have to bring them back. :)
They can ask their gawd to bring them back.
Do you think people will ever live on a planet besides Earth?
Yes, if we don't self-destruct first.
What do you and your academic friends make of the debate over
embryonic-stem-cell research in this country?
Ask a one week old embryo.
It would be an interesting conversation.
In Britain, like most of the developed world, stem-cell research is
regarded as a great opportunity. America will be left behind if it
doesn't change policy.
Could stem-cell research help you at all?
Like Christopher Reeve, I'm very much in favor, but unlike he did, I
don't expect to benefit personally.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
Which raises the question: Can a people that believes more fervently
in theVirgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened
nation?-Garry Wills, New York Times 11/04/04
.
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