Brief Answers to the Big Questions

Hawking suggests that the universe didn’t need a god to get started. Argue for this hypothesis, and then take the opposite side and argue against it.

How does belief in a myth about creation differ from belief in a theory about the origin of the universe? Include a comparison of the type of thinking behind each.

Explain why Hawking believes that intelligent alien species are unlikely and would be hard to communicate with. How might future technology improve the odds of meeting and successfully communicating with beings from other planets?