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Is Stephen Hawkings losing it?

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Howard_Casto:

--- Quote from: saint on May 03, 2010, 07:48:42 pm ---
--- Quote from: pinballjim on May 03, 2010, 05:21:45 pm ---I really don't want to get into another Hawking argument, but what meaningful, tangible contribution has he made to our lives?  He's got a lot of unproveable theories and some books - and he's inspirational.  He's the world record holder for living with ALS, scientists cannot explain how he's managed to live so long and that's pretty neat.

--- End quote ---

Well, he hasn't made me dinner or anything, I'll grant you that. He has studied math and physics and black holes and such. Wrote a few books that explained some bits about science to the general masses. Wrote some technical books for the non-masses. Studied theoretical astronomy and cosmology at Cambridge.  Had 11 doctoral students. Co-supplied a mathematical proof (which I understand is a pretty big thing) relating to the properties of black holes. You know, things that might make him maybe a bit qualified to speak... Dunno.

So who *do* you think is qualified?


--- End quote ---


Who are you and what have you done with saint?

Seriously man, that was going to be my reply before, but I've been making a real effort since I've came back to try to be less of a smart-ass with my replies.  Don't misunderstand, you hit the nail right on the head and I agree with you, it's just out of character to get such a response from you.  I'm not complaing btw.  ;)

It's kind of short-sighted, imho to say he hasn't made any contributions to society just because he hasn't produced a new line of george foreman grills or something.  Tangible things are NOT the worth of a man or his career.  Hawking has taught physics on all levels with will undoubtely lead to more tangible applications later down the line.  Arguing that he hasn't done anythng worthwhile is kind of like saying the space race wasn't worthwhile because we didn't find aliens when we went to the moon.  Even if you are so practically minded that you can't appreciate the wonder and sheer joy of exploring the unknown, there were thousands of products and materials that came out of the space race.  That is where the good professor's work really shines btw.  Some of his theories will be very instrumental towards long-distance (say out of the solar system) space travel.  Mind you it might not happen within our lifetimes, but it will eventually be useful in direct applications.

danny_galaga:

--- Quote from: drventure on May 03, 2010, 05:54:22 pm ---
--- Quote ---He's the world record holder for living with ALS, scientists cannot explain how he's managed to live so long and that's pretty neat.
--- End quote ---

That, and he guest starred on the Simpsons. Theoretical Physics Master? Meh. Guest star on Simpson?  :afro:

 ;)

--- End quote ---

Cooler than that, he guest starred with Gary Gygax and Al Gore in Futurama. Remember that?


--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on May 03, 2010, 05:58:46 pm ---You guys do realize that he's probably one of the smartest men on the planet.  So even if he did lose a step due to age/illness the fact that you think some of his theories are bunk probably has less to do with him losing something and more to do with all of us being too dumb to fully comprehend what he is saying. 

--- End quote ---

What I am getting at is that news about him lately has been very ho hum. Pretty much anyone can say " I reckon we oughta avoid aliens"

And how many times have we heard about high speed space travel since Einsteins time?

drventure:

--- Quote ---Cooler than that, he guest starred with Gary Gygax and Al Gore in Futurama. Remember that?
--- End quote ---

How could I forget that? Doh!



--- Quote ---What I am getting at is that news about him lately has been very ho hum. Pretty much anyone can say " I reckon we oughta avoid aliens"
And how many times have we heard about high speed space travel since Einsteins time?
--- End quote ---

True, but the guy's 68 and had been doing fastly serious stuff for a long time now. Maybe it's time he unwind a bit. Besides, I'd much rather someone like him keep the dialog going about aliens and space travel. If not, those concepts will eventually just die off. It takes guys like that, who can not only dream it up, but can also visualize how it +might+ actually happen and then, just maybe, see the solution at the bottom of a cereal bowl one day.

syph007:
Ya I wouldn't worry about aliens visiting anytime soon.... I remember when i came across the drake equation and that made sense to me.  Since the universe is so vast, I think its reasonable to think that life exists on other planets.  Now... given that i don't believe aliens have ever come here... to me that just proves that light or faster than light travel isnt possible.. these populated planets are too far from us to ever show a presence.  That's my take on it.. and ya I can forgive Hawkings for some shock value comments....

RayB:
I just explained already why these lame quotes from him are in the news! He's involved in a new documentary. That's what companies do when they release movies. They try to get whatever PR they can in the guise of articles about something else. In this case it's a couple seemingly sensational or out-there quotes. So you read the article, and it mentions the documentary. Ergo, the article was really just advertising for the movie.

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