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Brie Stark's picture

Emergence

Submitted by Brie Stark on Sun, 07/12/2009 - 10:47pm.

“Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe?” - Stephen Hawking.

It seems that this quotation, made by one of the most famous scientists of our modern age, actually describes the impact and necessity of emergence.  He states that there are rules and equations -- in sum, there are facts that are generally agreed upon by the masses.  However, he then questions those facts: what is it that breathes fire--life--into those facts?  What makes the universe tangible to us?  Basically, the creation of stories through discussion of those facts.  By using the concept of emergence, stressing that facts are secondary to the primary of discussion, really allows the creation of stories that breathe fire into what we claim to be the universe.

For further consideration, "Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge," - Carl Sagan.

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