Ultimate Question

[finaldeathh]

I am all of us have pondered about this question, and ponder it often: what or who programmed the way the universe is? Who or what set up the rule that when you mix different atoms together, you get anywhere from plastic to super energy? Why are galaxies, stars, or anything the way they are? <br /><br />Besides the question of why anything exist and how can nothing exist, I feel like this is the grand question of them all.<br /><br />We will probably never be able to answer the question but it doesn't hurt to ask it.

 

[hal9891]

The universe simply is as it is, becouse if some forces of the universe were even slightly different we wouldn't exist and there wouldn't be anyone to ask these questions. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#808080" color="#999999"><font size="1">"I predict that within 100 years computers will be twice as powerful, 10000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them"</font></font><br /></div> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Nice answer .Questions of philosophy be left to Hawkins.You may read his brief history of time.

 

[MeteorWayne]

It's HAWKING!!!!!<br /><br />You'd think out of respect you would have learned that by now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[mithridates]

You'd think out of respect you'd be easier on people writing in their second language. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Scientists only see .They never expect any ultimate truth.Before creation what ever was there w call it law.But scientific law is not like act of parliament.It is series of observations.

 

[MeteorWayne]

I have been, but he constantly quotes Hawking, I think it's only fair he learn what the guy's name is.<br />He's been told quite a few times before as well. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[mithridates]

Okay. One of the things I like about this board is that people don't overly concern themselves with typos. You should see one of the other boards I post on for English teachers - make a typo or a bit of sloppy syntax and that's the subject of the thread for the next three pages.<br /><br />I could see myself writing Hawkins or something if I were tired. (wait, actually I'm tired right now) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I wince with every typo and incorrect word use, but rarely bring it up.<br />But to repeated misuse the name of someone alokmohan quotes repeatedly finally pushed me over the edge.<br /><br />Sorry for my snarkiness. <br /><br />Edited for speeling <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Ultimate answer :<br /><br /><br />42<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[finaldeathh]

After looking at my original post a second time, I am not going to deny that I've made a few grammar mistakes myself. To be honest, in a casual discussion board like this, grammar/spelling shouldn't matter as long as the ideas are understood.<br /><br />I've asked similar questions before in this board before and I learn something new every time I ask these kind of questions. Thinking about these questions are mind boggling to me so I would love to hear some of your ideas.<br /><br />As for Hawking's book, no, I haven't read it yet but I might have to find it in my school's library and give it a go. I love philosophy so I'll probably enjoy it.<br /><br />But please guys, don't turn the thread into about grammar and spelling. Thanks.

 

[oscar1]

I am afraid that we have to either believe in the anthropic principle or in God to answer your question. "A Brief History of Time" and "The Universe in a Nutshell" are interesting reads, but do not give you any answer other than I have stated above. <br /><br />What has always intrigued me though, and is hardly ever debated, is "what about the laws of nature?". In the (or 'our') beginning there was a Big Bang; 'something' exploded into 'something [else]', or something made 'nothing' explode into 'something'. As mysterious as the 'either/or' may appear to us, we hardly ever ask where the laws of nature come from. Were they created along with energy and matter, or did they already exist? If we would invent/develop an element that is unknown in nature, we would know where it came from, but would not know why that element adheres to (a) certain law/laws that we did not invent/develop. This would tell us that there is indeed some kind of Grand Design, and that no matter what, everything has already 'been' sometime somewhere, or at least has been thought about 'before'. <br /><br />Whatever, I don't think we will ever know.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yep, thanks. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[chembuff1982]

You act as if Hawking is that of a Godly position or somewhat of all knowing person. I never was much impressed with Hawking or even Einstein and sorry if this is such a transgression to this community, but each in the past or present who provides breakthrough ideas, although unique, would have been discovered by another if they did not exist. I read some of Einstein's work and to be honest I wasn't that impressed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> You may be a genius, but google knows more than you! </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Well first of all, I never suggested that Hawking was a God. That is alkmohan. ANd he never used the word god. I've never commented on the subject.<br /><br />As for Hawking and Einstein, I would suggest you don't consider it groundbreaking because perhaps you do not understand it.<br /><br />It's a lot of very stange concepts to wrap your head around.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[spookikiwi]

rather than argue over if its hawkins or hawking, or weather or not einstein was a clever ****** or not, & rather than give a sh*t about my grammar or spelling, i'll just put my 2cents worth in for a shot at an answer..<br /><br />it really depends what you believe, if you believe in God, the whole shabang was created, if you dont believe in God, it was all by chance. really really super duper trizillion to 1 lucky chance. when you think about it,, we could have evolved into any strange being on any planet, doing anything at any spot in the entire universe.<br /><br />i still like to question, if the big bang theory is correct, how was it possible to create something out of nothing? to me, that is more interesting than how large the bang was.

 

[lukman]

uncertainty principle? the existence, what they do, what they are, all are decided at quantum level... not sure <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> just want to type something here, i am uncertained. Who tell me to type when infact i dont know what to type here <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[ashish27]

you people have turned this thread into a mess. nobody answered the topic starters question. well, let me volunteer.<br /><br />See, IMO nobody programed the Universe. The Universe is a sequence of events, one leads to another and then another. The question to ask here is, who started the very first event, the Big Bang, as its called. The answer of that question we yet don't know.<br /><br />if we did then (to quote Hawking) , "we would know the mind of God".<br />

 

[balgor]

Why not ask google?<br />http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=the+answer+to+life+the+universe+and+everything&btnG=Search

 

[hal9891]

42??? <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#808080" color="#999999"><font size="1">"I predict that within 100 years computers will be twice as powerful, 10000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them"</font></font><br /></div> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

is a notion that God created rules of universe.Thi is not corrcet.There is no rule of universe like IPC.Sun rises in the east is observtion.Nothing surprising if i rises in tne west.There is no binding rule or law.

 

[alokmohan]

Thank you meteor.Its hawking.Am I wrong this time also?

 

[ashish27]

IPC? you mean the indian penal code? haha. that's some rulebook. but Newton's laws and classical mechanics come pretty close. you can do this and can't do that. classical mechanics is really boring, as i found out from my school days.

 

[alokmohan]

That is miconception.After large numer of observation scientist geneneralise and call it a law.But this law is not valid if you see something contrary. Suun rises east every day we cll it law of nature.But think ofa situation when sun rises in the west.It is theoricaly possible.So laws are not binding they are empirical observations.

 

[bdewoody]

Grammer is one thing, getting a persoms name wrong is something else Hawking is a different name than Hawkins. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>