“I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We’ve created life in our own image.”
- 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”
table of contents
Quote
“I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We’ve created life in our own image.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking explores the concept of life in the context of technology and human nature. By suggesting that computer viruses could be considered a form of life, Hawking raises provocative questions about what it means to be alive. Traditionally, life is understood through biological criteria—such as reproduction, metabolism, and the ability to evolve. However, Hawking challenges this definition by pointing to the destructive nature of computer viruses, which are self-replicating programs that spread and cause damage to computer systems. He suggests that, in a way, these viruses share certain qualities with biological organisms, like the ability to replicate and infect.
Hawking’s reflection also serves as a critique of human ingenuity and the impact of technology on the world. He implies that, in creating computer viruses, humanity has produced a form of life that mirrors human flaws, particularly in terms of destructive tendencies. The fact that we have created life that operates in a way that is fundamentally harmful suggests that we have imprinted our own self-destructive qualities onto the very technologies we create. This might be seen as a metaphor for how human greed, carelessness, or short-term thinking can lead to the creation of technologies or systems that, while innovative, ultimately have negative consequences.
Finally, the quote raises broader questions about the relationship between humanity and technology, as well as our responsibility to shape the future in more constructive ways. By acknowledging that we’ve created a form of life that is “destructive,” Hawking is calling attention to the need for ethics and caution in technological development. If we are to create technologies that truly benefit humanity and the planet, they must be designed with thoughtful consideration of their potential impact—just as we must be mindful of the moral implications of the life we create, whether biological or digital.
