A SHORT HISTORY OF TIME
A film review by Lons Ponschock
Copyright 1996 Lons Ponschock
" My dreams at that time [1963] were rather disturbed. Before my condition had been diagnosed, I had been very bored with life. There had not seemed to be anything worth doing. But shortly after I came out of hospital, I dreamt that I was going to be executed. I suddenly realized that there were a lot of worthwhile things I could do if I were reprieved."
- Stephen Hawking -
An egg is an idea in
the mind of a chicken
to get more eggs.
- Author Unknown -
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME
directed by Erroll Morris
This is the documentary on the life and work of theoretical cosmologist Stephen Hawking. I am in the position here similar to the anecdote about some sports figure who wrote a book and had to have someone else read it to him.
In due time, the other Netters here will be able to explain to us what the actual import of Hawking's work is. As with every great mind and new scientific discovery we are reminded of the phrase from the Firesign Theater: "Everything you know is wrong." If I interpret what is said correctly, Hawking is saying that the steady state theory of the cosmology refutes Einsteinian physics which is to say that it is Hawking's contention that God truly _does_ play at dice with the Universe and occasionally throws them in the corner where they cannot be seen: that there is true randomness in the Universe.
In propounding the Steady State Theory (that the Universe is continually expanding,) it is his contention that there is no God or that there are limits to the nature of God's work. (Neither Hawking nor Morris are familiar with the work of Julian Jaynes, but this is a digression.) God can only exist as The Creator if there is a beginning to Time: The Big Bang theory which is the idea that the Universe began as a violent explosion fusing bits together to form matter: the star stuff of which Carl Sagan speaks.
Morris' documentary combines theory with biographical details from Hawking's life which were most enjoyable. The naturalness with which Hawking was able, through his genius, to convert from an analytical method to a conceptual method due to his growing infirmities from a progressive illness is the center on which the story turns. This is to say that _without_ the infirmities, those conceptualizations of the Universe; Black Hole constructions and a model of the Universe based on a _reverse_ Black Hole may never have taken place.
The film discusses such topics as Imaginary Time, Singularities and smooth troughs in Black Holes.
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There is a story in the mysteries of the Hassidim concerning the student who told his rabbi that he was not satisfied with the way God made the Universe. The teacher asks the student, "Do you believe that you could have done better?" The student replies, "Yes, Rebbe, I believe that I could." The Master picks up the student by the front of his garment, looks the young man in the eye and with great force says, "Then BEGIN!"
- source obscure -
-------------------------------------------------- For the discerning viewer, I suggest that after watching this documentary a couple of times... which you will *need* to do... that you go out and buy some Louis Prima records.
lon
--
"I did not know the cure for the disease
of images, but I believed in the healing
power of words and stories."
- Until the End of the World - lon@edsi.org
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