I can't say I feel qualified to make the sorts of truly inspiring tributes I'm reading so far. I just want it known that one more person appreciates all he's done to motivate people such as myself to look up at the stars and pursue a career chasing them.
Stephen Hawking has died
71–80 of 468 posts
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#72I mean no disrespect, but I find it bitter-sweetly amusing that, of all days, he died on Pi Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day
That is no disrespect. It's an homage to pi.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#73Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing? Is the unified theory so compelling that it brings about its own existence? Or does it need a creator, and, if so, does he have any other effect on the universe? And who created him?
Up to now, most scientists have been too occupied with the development of new theories that describe what the universe is to ask the question why. On the other hand, the people whose business it is to ask why, the philosophers, have not been able to keep up with the advance of scientific theories. In the eighteenth century, philosophers considered the whole of human knowledge, including science, to be their field and discussed questions such as: did the universe have a beginning? However, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, science became too technical and mathematical for the philosophers, or anyone else except a few specialists. Philosophers reduced the scope of their inquiries so much that Wittgenstein, the most famous philosopher of this century, said, “The sole remaining task for philosophy is the analysis of language.” What a comedown from the great tradition of philosophy from Aristotle to Kant!
However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we would know the mind of God.
-- Stephen Hawking
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#74Hawking plays The Guide Mark II in the new BBC radio dramatization of book 6 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide “trilogy”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p060hy01
A wonderful, somehow fitting, celebration.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#75Talk about beating the odds.
He showed ALS who's boss! He demonstrated that when you have a purpose and the will to live one can overcome their limitations.
He inspired me and countless of others.
R.I.P. Dr. Hawking.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#76Few have accomplished as much while overcoming so little compared to Hawkings. Hawkings is and will always be a hero. To think when he started out black holes were just a myth. He got to witness not only their acceptance and his own vindication but actual gravitational waves as well!
His work will be built upon to make the next greatest discovery, but I don't think there will be a man this accomplished in the next few decades.
We miss you already, Mr. Hawking.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#77Seems to be more info in this article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawk...
This reads like a pre-prepared obituary. No additional information regarding his death.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#78Do we know what killed him? All of these articles have very little information. Was it the natural progression of ALS or some other kind of disease?
In ALS and other degenerative neuromuscular disorders one loses the ability to swallow effectively and protect against aspiration along with the inability to speak. People affected by this, like my grandfather, will usually require a feeding tube to allow enough calories without risking aspiration. However, even with this, we are constantly relying on our epligottis and swallowing reflexes to prevent microaspirations of saliva and oral bacteria. Because of this, people with ALS are at extremely high risk for pneumonia, which would be my first guess as being most likely. His was lucky in that his ALS was a subtype that didn't progress as rapidly as most do.
I think you don't deserve the downvoting you are getting even though the timing of your question is not great, you're still trying to understand what the natural progression of ALS is.
Re: Stephen Hawking has died
#79That man was my hero. If I achieve a fraction of what he accomplished in his life, I will be incredibly proud.
Against all odds, he lived a full and amazing life. It somehow feels even more painful to lose a man who cheated death. It just gives you that feeling that they can somehow live forever, until the moment when the illusion is shattered.
And underneath it all is that unshakable feeling. Memento mori. Slowly my childhood heroes will drift away until there's none left. Then it will be my turn to drift away.
I miss him already. The world is always going to be a little sadder without him. Though, maybe I can still make it to his party.
A RECEPTION FOR TIME TRAVELLERS
Hosted by
PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING
To be held in the past, at
THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Gonville & Caius College, Trinity Street, Cambridge
Location: 52˚ 12' 21" N, 0˚ 7' 4.7" E
12:00 UT 28 JUNE 2009
NO RSVP REQUIREDRe: Stephen Hawking has died
#80On Pi Day, no less. RIP.
England doesn't have Pi day (assuming he died on the 14th with isn't clear yet)