“I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science. The laws may have been decreed by God, but God does not intervene to break the laws.”
- 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
“I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science. The laws may have been decreed by God, but God does not intervene to break the laws.”
Explanation
This quote from Stephen Hawking reflects his view that the universe operates according to immutable scientific principles. The idea that science governs the universe is central to Hawking’s work, especially in theoretical physics, where he sought to understand the underlying laws that explain everything from the behavior of subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Hawking’s views are influenced by his deep understanding of physics, which operates under the assumption that the laws of nature, such as gravity, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics, are consistent and universal.
However, Hawking also acknowledges the possibility that these laws may have been set into motion by a creator (i.e., God). This idea reflects a philosophical stance known as deism, which suggests that while a divine being may have created the universe and established its governing principles, God does not intervene in the ongoing workings of the universe. This contrasts with more traditional religious views where God is seen as actively involved in the events of the world, shaping outcomes and intervening in natural processes. For Hawking, the laws of science are sufficient to explain the universe, and there is no need for supernatural intervention to explain its functioning.
In modern times, Hawking’s belief that the universe operates according to scientific laws has been widely accepted within the scientific community. His work on the Big Bang Theory, black holes, and the theory of everything all suggests that the universe is a self-contained system that can be understood through mathematics and physical laws, without requiring external intervention. Hawking’s view also aligns with his agnosticism: while not dismissing the possibility of a creator, he emphasized that scientific inquiry does not rely on divine intervention to explain natural phenomena. This idea has been influential in discussions about the relationship between science and religion, and it suggests that scientific discovery and religious belief are not necessarily incompatible, though they address different aspects of human experience.
Hawking’s statement also resonates with his broader philosophical stance that the universe is knowable through human reason and scientific inquiry, and that understanding the laws of nature can bring us closer to answering fundamental questions about existence, without relying on metaphysical explanations. The balance he strikes between acknowledging the possibility of a creator and emphasizing the sufficiency of science to explain the workings of the universe has made his ideas influential in both scientific and philosophical discussions.
