Sunday, June 26, 2011

Hopefull Ape

I found this link through a we-blog while ago. You can read the response of different intellectuals to one of the biggest question that anybody might have: "Does the Universe Have a Purpose?". Looking at the twelve responses, you can find:
Two (2) definite No
One (1) Unlikely 
One (1) Not sure
Five (5) Yes (including Indeed and certainly)
One (1) Very Likely
One (1) Perhaps

And finally one (1) "I hope so"

If you look at these numbers again, 33% (4 out of 12) said no or are more inclined toward no.
58% (7 out of 12) said yes or are more toward yes and there is one with hope.

I liked Elie Wiesel answer too which was "I hope so, and if it doesn’t, it’s up to us to give it one."
Also Lawrence M. Krauss answer is very logical " While nothing in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, or cosmology has ever provided direct evidence of purpose in nature, science can never unambiguously prove that there is no such purpose. As Carl Sagan said, in another context: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Of course, nothing would stop science from uncovering positive evidence of divine guidance and purpose if it were attainable. For example, tomorrow night if we look up at the stars and they have been rearranged into a pattern that reads, "I am here," I think even the most hard-nosed scientific skeptic would suspect something was up..."

P.S. Picture is from here

3 comments:

Behdokht said...

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"; simple and right.

Georg said...

Rather interesting subject, Hiva. Unfortunately, you didn't say what you think about it.

As to me, I don't think there is a purpose, but nobody can prove this, we are simply too small and unimportant to be able to do so.

Cheers and welcome to a happy and eventful life (even without purpose).

Georg

Hiva said...

George,
My answer is "I don't know but I hope so :)"

Behi, I liked that phrase too