Steven Weinberg on pre-big bang cosmos, physics and religion

by bohm 8 Replies latest jw friends

  • bohm
    bohm

    I recently found an interview with Steven Weinberg http://richarddawkins.net/rdf_productions/steven_weinberg which i would strongly recommend. Steven Weinberg is not the average run-of-the-mill theoretical physics nobel-prize winner, but would easily be in my top-5 greatest physicists of the 20th century.

    Dont get scared by Richard Dawkins -- he dont get to say a whole lot and Weinberg has IMHO a much more agreeable belief on atheism. He also tell Dawkins off in video 8 :-).

    The most interesting part is when Weinberg explain the state of modern cosmology around the time of Big Bang (mid of video 2 to video 4). In particular, he address the Chaotic Inflation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaotic_Inflation_theory (where new Big Bangs occur all the time) and how it relate to the fine-tuning problem in physics (which Weinberg discuss at some length). Choice quote from the end of video 4 where Weinberg slam a cardinal:

    "Cardinal Schoenborn in his opt-ed article said precisely that the multiverse idea was invented in order avoid the apperence of design in the universe and that is simply not true. It is historically not true"

    I thought this was quite interesting in the light of this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/current/202219/1/Stephen-Hawkings-is-a-nutter-for-believing-in-a-fantasy where Stephen Hawkins is called a "nutter" for believing in the multiverse idea -- i wonder if Weinberg, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, is a nutter to since the two seem to believe about the same thing.

  • Dutch-scientist
    Dutch-scientist

    H Bohm,

    This is funny I just post this kind of theory(Pre Big Bang situtions) on a Dutch Forum.

    I will take a look at this now.

    Cheers,

    DS

  • bohm
    bohm

    Thanks DS!. I found it particular refreshing that Weinberg never tries to overstate a case.

  • leavingwt
    leavingwt

    Weinberg is easy to listen to. Thank you for posting this.

  • bohm
    bohm

    Thanks, leavingwt!

    Yes, i should properly have said that even though the subject is above just about anyones paygrade, Weinberg try to explain things in laymans terms.

  • Dutch-scientist
    Dutch-scientist

    The Thunder was funny in the first part.

  • bohm
    bohm

    thunder? I will have to see it again.

  • Dutch-scientist
    Dutch-scientist

    Yeah Weinberg talks about GOD or G.O.D. outside you can hear the thunder. They will make jokes of it.

    But the real conversation is priceless on mine point of view.

    DS

  • frankiespeakin

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