“Science predicts that many different kinds of universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing. It is a matter of chance which we are in.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“Science predicts that many different kinds of universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing. It is a matter of chance which we are in.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking reflects on the multiverse theory, which posits that the universe we inhabit is just one of many possible universes that could have arisen. According to this theory, different laws of physics, initial conditions, or even dimensions might lead to the spontaneous creation of entirely different kinds of universes. The idea of multiple universes emerging “out of nothing” aligns with quantum mechanics, which allows for the spontaneous creation of particles and phenomena, seemingly without cause or explanation. Hawking’s assertion that it is a matter of chance which universe we occupy suggests that the conditions we experience are just one of many possible outcomes.
Hawking’s approach challenges traditional views of the universe as a unique, purposeful creation. Rather than seeing our universe as a singular entity with a definitive cause or reason for existence, he proposes that cosmological events and outcomes may arise from random quantum fluctuations. This line of thinking emerged as part of string theory and the idea of imaginary time, where the universe, in some ways, could be understood as a self-contained system that did not require a creator. The notion that our universe is just one random occurrence among potentially infinite others suggests a vast, impersonal cosmos where the origin of any particular universe—ours included—was shaped by the whims of quantum chance.
This concept of multiple universes is highly speculative and remains one of the most controversial ideas in modern physics. While the multiverse theory provides a framework to explain the fine-tuning of the universe (why the conditions appear so precisely calibrated for life), it also raises significant philosophical and scientific challenges. If multiple universes exist, with some perhaps being entirely inhospitable to life, this raises the question of whether our existence is truly special or simply a consequence of randomness. In modern times, these ideas continue to influence discussions on the nature of existence, cosmology, and the possibility of life beyond our own universe.
