The quest for truth of Stephen Hawking

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/SetF.2021.002

Keywords

Hawking, truth, creator, causality, existence of God, Aquinas, Aristotle

Abstract

With his bestselling publication, A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking introduced in 1988 a new genre by connecting modern science with the question of the existence of God. In the posthumous publication Brief Answers to the Big Questions, he continues with his quest for the ultimate truth. The current study presents a philosophical analysis of this search in terms of the classical philosophy of Aristotle and Aquinas. Causality is the central concept employed by Hawking. However, its meaning, in the modern scientific and philosophical literature, is limited to temporal causality in contrast to the view of classical philosophy. Only the latter one accepts causality from outside space and time, with other words, a reality transcending the material world. In a quote presented in the discussion, Hawking defines himself as an atheist. After a careful reading of his writings, however, doubts arise about his unbelief.

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Published

2021-03-14

How to Cite

1.
DRIESSEN, Alfred. The quest for truth of Stephen Hawking. Scientia et Fides. Online. 14 March 2021. Vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 47-61. [Accessed 4 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/SetF.2021.002.

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Vol. 9 No. 1 (2021)

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Articles

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