1 The Ultimate Question
7
It is a sentiment felt by most of us in our darker moments.
As part of an attempt to determine their place in the universe, humans
turned to a systematic study of nature and the world about them. Perhaps
unravelling its secrets would reveal, as a corollary, the quintessence of
humanity.
Of course, most people are so engaged in their daily toil that they cannot
find time for this type of introspection. As the great philosopher, Thomas
Hobbes (and others before him) wrote: “primum vivere deinde philosophari”
(first live, then engage in philosophy). Likewise, Miguel de Cervantes relates a
dialogue between two horses: “Are you a metaphysic?” asks one horse to the
other. “No,” replies its scrawny companion. “It is just that I haven’t eaten for
several days”.
Even when their basic needs are satisfied, most people are quickly frustrated by the formidable complexity of the quest. It is like climbing mountains: the higher you reach, the larger appears the horizon (and the unknown
beyond). As a consequence, many are content with easier goals, such as trying
to accumulate as much wealth as possible (as though playing an endless game
of Monopoly), and then bequeathing it when they die to somebody, who may
well play the opposite game, and set about wasting it inanely.
However, the quest for knowledge has been an enduring and noble component of human endeavour over several millennia. In this book we try to
provide an insight for the non-specialist into the science of physics, which
is perhaps the most fundamental of the scientific disciplines, although we
rebuff the extreme position, allegedly propounded by Lord Rutherford, that
all science is either physics or stamp collecting. We have attempted to make
our presentation as simple as possible, but not oversimplified, 2 lest the beauty
of the physical concepts and arguments be lost.
So what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything? We are
not presumptuous enough to believe we can answer such a question, when
millions of others, since time began, have already tried. However, we suggest
that any attempt to understand the purpose of the universe must begin with
a basic knowledge of what the universe is, and how it works.
1.3 Do Horses Exist?
To recapitulate the contents of the previous Section, our goal in this book
is to try to learn as much as possible about the world in which we happen
2 Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler: usually attributed to Albert Einstein.
7
It is a sentiment felt by most of us in our darker moments.
As part of an attempt to determine their place in the universe, humans
turned to a systematic study of nature and the world about them. Perhaps
unravelling its secrets would reveal, as a corollary, the quintessence of
humanity.
Of course, most people are so engaged in their daily toil that they cannot
find time for this type of introspection. As the great philosopher, Thomas
Hobbes (and others before him) wrote: “primum vivere deinde philosophari”
(first live, then engage in philosophy). Likewise, Miguel de Cervantes relates a
dialogue between two horses: “Are you a metaphysic?” asks one horse to the
other. “No,” replies its scrawny companion. “It is just that I haven’t eaten for
several days”.
Even when their basic needs are satisfied, most people are quickly frustrated by the formidable complexity of the quest. It is like climbing mountains: the higher you reach, the larger appears the horizon (and the unknown
beyond). As a consequence, many are content with easier goals, such as trying
to accumulate as much wealth as possible (as though playing an endless game
of Monopoly), and then bequeathing it when they die to somebody, who may
well play the opposite game, and set about wasting it inanely.
However, the quest for knowledge has been an enduring and noble component of human endeavour over several millennia. In this book we try to
provide an insight for the non-specialist into the science of physics, which
is perhaps the most fundamental of the scientific disciplines, although we
rebuff the extreme position, allegedly propounded by Lord Rutherford, that
all science is either physics or stamp collecting. We have attempted to make
our presentation as simple as possible, but not oversimplified, 2 lest the beauty
of the physical concepts and arguments be lost.
So what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything? We are
not presumptuous enough to believe we can answer such a question, when
millions of others, since time began, have already tried. However, we suggest
that any attempt to understand the purpose of the universe must begin with
a basic knowledge of what the universe is, and how it works.
1.3 Do Horses Exist?
To recapitulate the contents of the previous Section, our goal in this book
is to try to learn as much as possible about the world in which we happen
2 Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler: usually attributed to Albert Einstein.