“God not only plays dice, He also sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen.”
- 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
“God not only plays dice, He also sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen.”
Explanation
This famous quote from Stephen Hawking builds upon the earlier statement by Albert Einstein that “God does not play dice,” referring to the uncertainty inherent in quantum mechanics. In Einstein’s view, the universe was deterministic, and events should follow predictable patterns, even at the quantum level. Hawking, however, suggests that the universe is not as deterministic as Einstein envisioned. By saying that God “not only plays dice” but also throws them in ways that cannot be observed, Hawking embraces the randomness and uncertainty at the heart of quantum theory.
The reference to dice is a metaphor for probability and random events that are central to the quantum world, where particles do not follow strict paths but exist in a state of probabilistic outcomes. In this view, the fundamental behavior of particles, atoms, and even larger cosmic structures is governed by randomness—something that was initially hard for classical physicists like Einstein to accept. Hawking’s statement reflects his belief that the universe, particularly at the quantum level, is governed by chance and uncertainty, challenging the deterministic worldview that had been dominant in physics for centuries.
Hawking’s view has had profound implications for modern physics, especially in fields like quantum mechanics and cosmology. It also touches on the limitations of human knowledge. Even if we understand the laws that govern the universe, we may never be able to fully predict or control all events, especially those governed by randomness. This idea also reflects Hawking’s broader approach to science—acknowledging that the universe may operate according to rules that defy our ability to fully observe, measure, or predict. In a world increasingly shaped by quantum computing and the search for a unified theory, Hawking’s acceptance of uncertainty is a reminder of the limits of scientific understanding, especially when faced with the mysterious nature of the quantum realm.
