8 Shocking Things We Learned From Stephen Hawking's Book (Should Be 9 Shocking things)

Live Science ^ | January, 2012 | Clara Moskowitz

[lbryce]

From the idea that our universe is one among many, to the revelation that mathematician Pythagoras didn't actually invent the Pythagorean theorem, here are eight shocking things we learned from reading physicist Stephen Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design," written with fellow physicist Leonard Mlodinow of Caltech.

The book, covering major questions about the nature and origin of the universe, was released Sept. 7, 2010, by its publisher, Bantam.

[lbryce]

While there are many fascinating aspects to Stephen Hawking's book as brought to our attention with 'Live Science's '8 Shocking Things We Learned From Stephen Hawking's Book' article, what I came away with after reading the article was that the most shocking thing in the book is one not highlighted as such, and of which I believe is an 'easter egg' (hidden) wacky thing that is the most shocking of them all and which should have been entitled as "9 Shocking Things We Learn From his book.'

Item #4 Is the notion that we live in a Universe in which our view is distorted, that we have a distorted view of reality.

Hawking and Mlodinow bring up the incident to make the point that it is impossible to know the true nature of reality. We think we have an accurate picture of what's going on, but don't have anything in which to compare what reality is really like. Hawking uses an example to help explain what he mean by a distorted view.

How would we know if we were metaphorically living in a giant fishbowl of our own reality since we would never be able to see outside our own point of view to compare?

To help us understand how we might perceive the Universe as normal but in reality is distorted, he uses oppressed fish living in a fish bowl. The idea that fish living in a curved bowl have a distorted view of reality is like we perceiving the universe through dist The ultimate point I am trying to make here is that a few years ago, the city council of Monza, Italy, barred pet owners from keeping goldfish in curved bowls. This law was meant to protect the poor fish from a distorted nature of reality, since bent light might show them in an odd portrayal of their surroundings.

Hawking and Mlodinow bring up the incident to make the point that it is impossible to know the true nature of reality is.. We think we have an accurate picture of what's going on, but how would we know if we were metaphorically living in a giant fishbowl of our own, since we would never be able to see outside our own point of view to compare.

He uses #5 entitled 'Oppressed Fish' as metaphor for the distorted view of reality of fish living in a curved fishbowl perceived as such and so by the same token we ourselves in fact may be have a distorted view of reality. Okay. The metaphor makes sense and that indeed the view of the universe we see of our reality is distorted.

What I found out about the outlawing of curved fishbowls so that fish will get to see the world in a non-distorted reality was that that a few years ago, the city council of Monza, Italy, barred pet owners from keeping goldfish in curved bowls. This law was meant to protect the poor fish from a distorted nature of reality, since bent light might show them an odd portrayal of their surroundings.

Hawking and Mlodinow bring up the incident to make the point that it is impossible to know the true nature of reality. We think we have an accurate picture of what's going on, but how would we know if we were metaphorically living in a giant fishbowl of our own, since we would never be able to see outside our own point of view to compare.

The outlawing of curved fishbowls in Monza, Italy as to be one of the most bizarre, and strangest laws passed by humans for he benefit of animals without the absolute slightest idea if the fish give the slightest concern or can grasp to any degree about the shape of the fishbowl having the slightest degree of difference to the view they inhabit.

So please allow me to nominate the city council of Monza, Italy, for instilling human emotion into animals where it certainly doesn't apply as championed by the left without the fish knowing th slightest difference.

[knarf]

Hawking doesn’t believe in God ... that makes EVERYthing he says distorted.

[Olog-hai]

Hawking certainly has a distorted view of reality, especially when it comes to Israel.

[Bravada]

You have thar precisely right. I used to enjoy mental trips with his studies, but that ended when his anti-Israel views came to light. (Another anti-God position. May God have mercy on him. Just another poor soul thinking he is smarter than His Creator.)

[DannyTN]

"one consequence of the theory of quantum mechanics is that events in the past that were not directly observed did not happen in a definite way. Instead they happened in all possible ways. '

All Possible ways? Well then. If that's true, then I was married to Morgan Fairchild in the 70's! Also Rachael Welch! At the same time!!!!

[Bravada]

Whoops. Of course I meant to say ‘that’.

[Olog-hai]

They still love you, too.

[GraceG]

From the idea that our universe is one among many,

Stopped right there....

Anyone want to invest in my new kickstarter project to make a device to transport people into a universe where communism was soundly defeated in the cold war (both in russia and the USA)???

The idea is to "slide" into another universe...

If we cannot find a universe without communism we will find one where the USA is a "Communist Utopia" and offer all the liberal college professors, democrats, and welfare leeches a free ride to this "non-hateful utopia" and once there we will detroy the device.

Either way, it is a win-win...

[KC_Lion]

I will go fetch Kari Wuhrer.

[musicman]

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[griswold3]

“we will find one where the USA is a “Communist Utopia” and offer all the liberal college professors, democrats, and welfare leeches a free ride to this “non-hateful utopia” and once there we will detroy the device.”

Best idea I’ve heard today! I’m IN!

[GraceG]

Yeah, untill a bunch of liberals start showing up out of thin air and to our shock we discover that this universe IS the liberal utopia that a somewhat more conservative universe is dumping it’s liberals in....

DUN DUN DUN.......

[rsobin]

Compared to God’s Sovereignty the most capable of us are merely rats running in a wheel or fish swimming in a tank. “For now we see through a glass, darkly”....Hawking’s biggest problem will be a “face to face” meeting with his Creator. These revelations aren’t.

[lbryce]

THE POINT OF Me MAKiNG HE POST IS SIMPLY TO SHOW THE ANIMAL-LOVING ANTHROPOMORPHIC ASPECT OF CRAZY PEOPLE IN the WORLD.
I am not getting into the entire controversy regarding his embargo with Israeli intellectuals. My point is simply how the demented the left-wing, liberal mindset will outlaw fishbowls that are curved that give the fish a distorted view of the word simply because it is cured as if the fish can differentiate in the slightest way.
<p<Mt\y issue has nothing about Hawking and all about curved fishbowls that wont do the slightest to improve their lot

[vpintheak]

So, he argues that we can’t have a full picture of what is going on, that our reality is distorted. I’m sure he then goes on to reject God and all believers.
Hypocrit, thy name is Hawking!

[knarf]

Whoa .. OK.

We still love ya ...

/8^)

[Hardraade]

Oh, Bantam. Thought you said Barnum ;).

[atc23]

RE: Your signature line - that is from the "Gita" Although Oppenheimer did utter or paraphrase this passage after one of the atomic weapons test in the New Mexico desert -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita

As well, your sig line appears to have one or more words all mixed up.

[lbryce]

you are of course are referrring to Christpoher Hawking.

[atc23]

THE POINT OF Me MAKiNG HE POST IS SIMPLY TO SHOW THE ANIMAL-LOVING ANTHROPOMORPHIC ASPECT OF CRAZY PEOPLE IN the WORLD. I am not getting into the entire controversy regarding his embargo with Israeli intellectuals. My point is simply how the demented the left-wing, liberal mindset will outlaw fishbowls that are curved that give the fish a distorted view of the word simply because it is cured as if the fish can differentiate in the slightest way.

Do you know this for certain? Please present your evidence regarding non curved fishbowls NOT improving the lot of ordinary fish. And - is there a genuinely good reason why if we cannot improve the lot of fish that we should not do so?