Thoughts on science and culture following the death of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was an incredible scientist and said a lot of interesting things. One of the things he did that was most valuable was make science interesting to non-scientists and relevant in pop-culture. In the wake of his death, his quotes are making the rounds on social media. From my perspective as a biologist, the two most-often shared Hawking quotes this week are the worst choices to be broadly disseminated among non-scientists.
1) "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious." Astrophysics is rad, but also there are SO MANY things going on under your feet we still don't understand. Turn over a rock. Look at a salamander or an insect or a lichen. Honestly, just look at the rock. You can be curious about why we're here in such a more direct, accessible way than is implied by this quote, taken out of context. There are a ton of ways to be a scientist, or just a curious and informed person. Developing mathematical theory about cosmology is one tiny area of specialization, and not remotely the only way to be curious about the universe.
2) “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.” While I acknowledge that this statement seems to have intentionally cultivated a sense of our own mind-boggling smallness, it's super annoying to me because it somehow makes opposite but equally lame claims about human evolution. First, it claims humans are advanced monkeys (that's not how it works; if you want to talk more about how evolution works, message me!). Second, it does one of the more annoying things humans continually do, which is to posit ourselves as *extra special*, uniquely intelligent and valuable creatures in the Universe. That worldview has consequences for how we understand our biology and treat our planet. Frankly, it sucks.
In conclusion, take this occasion to familiarize yourself with Hawking's work, if it interests you. He did some really cool stuff. If it's not your cup of tea, maybe take some time to read about an area of inquiry that does interest you. But don't take these quotes at face value when you see them shared as cute little text memes.
tl;dr: RIP Hawking, but other kinds of science exist apart from physics and are important.
1) "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious." Astrophysics is rad, but also there are SO MANY things going on under your feet we still don't understand. Turn over a rock. Look at a salamander or an insect or a lichen. Honestly, just look at the rock. You can be curious about why we're here in such a more direct, accessible way than is implied by this quote, taken out of context. There are a ton of ways to be a scientist, or just a curious and informed person. Developing mathematical theory about cosmology is one tiny area of specialization, and not remotely the only way to be curious about the universe.
2) “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.” While I acknowledge that this statement seems to have intentionally cultivated a sense of our own mind-boggling smallness, it's super annoying to me because it somehow makes opposite but equally lame claims about human evolution. First, it claims humans are advanced monkeys (that's not how it works; if you want to talk more about how evolution works, message me!). Second, it does one of the more annoying things humans continually do, which is to posit ourselves as *extra special*, uniquely intelligent and valuable creatures in the Universe. That worldview has consequences for how we understand our biology and treat our planet. Frankly, it sucks.
In conclusion, take this occasion to familiarize yourself with Hawking's work, if it interests you. He did some really cool stuff. If it's not your cup of tea, maybe take some time to read about an area of inquiry that does interest you. But don't take these quotes at face value when you see them shared as cute little text memes.
tl;dr: RIP Hawking, but other kinds of science exist apart from physics and are important.
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