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Summary of Brief Answers to the Big Questions 

4.7 . 2383 reviews

Short summary

What is the origin of life? Will Artificial Intelligence overtake human intelligence? Are we more likely to destroy life on our beloved planet by our actions than by an attack from outer space? These are questions that seem complex to many people, thus, it’s difficult finding answers to them. However, in this tidbit, these questions and many more are answered in the simplest way possible. Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. He was the director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge up until the time of his death. In this summary, he explores, from a scientific perspective, the answers to certain existential questions. He challenges us to continue to explore new territories and take deliberate actions to ensure we do not destroy this lovely planet by our carelessness. “When we see the Earth from space, we see ourselves as a whole. We see the unity, and not the divisions. It is such a simple image with a compelling message; one planet, one human race.” 〜 Stephen Hawking

Table of content

  • Summary of Brief Answers to the Big Questions
  • About the author
  • What is Brief Answers to the Big Questions about?
  • Who should read Brief Answers to the Big Questions
  • Topics in Brief Answers to the Big Questions
first key point

There are forces that govern the universe that are beyond religious and cultural beliefs

Listen the first key point
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Why are we all here? Where did we all come from? Both religion and science postulate responses to these fundamental questions, and either reach profoundly dissimilar suppositions. Science argues that human existence is accidental, while religion postulates that there is inborn meaning in human life.

These questions arise from humans’ penchant to understand and explain our universe. Initially, man depended on religion to provide these answers. Before science gave a logical and verifiable explanation for lightning, rain and other natural phenomena, it was believed that gods were responsible for these things.
The best way to understand science is not just to believe in it, but to learn about it based on research and evidence.
The game of tennis shows that the ball always gets to the position where the natural laws of gravity and motion predict it will. There are no exceptions. Certainly, there are other variables that influence the outcome, such as the force with which the player hits the ball or the wind speed, but these act as simple data points, processed by these natural laws in an invariable way to estimate the result. These laws are universal.

The revolution of our planet obeys natural laws. Moreover, natural laws can’t be broken by anyone. This means that God would have to obey the laws. Theology diverges at this point with its assertion of divine omnipotence.To bridge the gap between religious definitions and scientific definitions of God, we need to see God and these universal laws as one and the same.This would mean defining God as the laws of nature itself rather than a conscious being who is responsible for its creation.
second key point

The conclusions of science and that of religion on the fundamental questions of life are entirely different

The Big Bang hypothesis is the dominant cosmological explanation that states that the universe began as an endlessly hot and dense singularity that expanded over 13.8 billion years to become the universe we know today. Most humans do not find the definition of the Big Bang theory comforting because of their desire to think of God as the creator of the universe. But looking at the universe in its magnitude and comparing it to how puny and unintended human life is, the probability of a divine creator is microscopic. If the traditional understanding of the beginning of the universe is unsound, how then did the universe begin?
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third key point

Understanding the revolutionary theory about space will help answer the question of what preceded the Big Bang

fourth key point

Predictions are well–calculated assumptions gotten from past and present experiences

fifth key point

What can escape a black hole?

sixth key point

Technological advancements and political will must combine to combat the prospect of human extinction

seventh key point

Humans possess enough mental capacity to make the universe a better place

eighth key point

Although AI is beneficial, it must be closely managed to prevent it from replacing humans in the workforce

ninth key point

Conclusion

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.