The Grand Design (book)

The great design: A new explanation of the universe ( Original title: The Grand Design ) is a popular science book, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow about the possibility of a world formula, all physical phenomena of the universe and its origins can be fully explained by the. The main thesis of the book is that after the M- theory, the universe may have originated without the influence of God the Creator spontaneously, and not just one but a multitude of different universes is likely. The key to prove this theory, the connection between Einstein's general theory of relativity and quantum physics is presented. The German edition of the book appeared in September 2010 in hardcover.

Content

Starting point of the book is the concept of a model-dependent realism. Accordingly, we accept an explanatory model when it predicts events accurately. At the same time, it is possible that another model of explanation with fundamentally different foundations same events predicts equally apt. In such a case can not be said, one of the models is more real than the other, as Hawking and Mlodinow. This approach, the authors use in order to integrate them into their introduction of a theory of everything both theories of classical physics and quantum physics, although our everyday experiences only the knowledge of classical physics correspond, but contradict quantum physics.

Basis of the quantum- theoretical part of the book is the double slit experiment called. It shows that the smallest particles of light follow on the path from point A to point B no predictable path. The physicist Richard Feynman concluded first that this did not mean the light particles of the experiment would follow any path at all. After Feynman's theory follow rather all at all possible paths. Hawking and Mlodinow transferred this idea, citing the model-dependent realism from the quantum field on the cosmology of the entire universe. Accordingly, the universe has not been developed on a single deterministic way from the Big Bang from, but at the same time in all possible ways to a variety of possible universes. For the solution of the question of how all these worlds can exist in time and space in parallel, the authors refer to the models of string theory. General relativity is used to resolve the problem of the origin of the universe. Hawking and Mlodinow explain that the time must be understood in the phase of the Big Bang as a spatial dimension according to Einstein's theory, which has nothing to do with our everyday understanding of time. The so-called space-time will be described at this point the same way as a continuous surface without margin. The question of the beginning of time (such as for an edge ) is in the argument become obsolete because of this beginning as little determinable is just like a point south of the south pole.

Reception

The book reached the fourth place on the Spiegel bestseller list for hardcover books in September 2010. Criticisms from a scientific perspective concerned with the publication among others, the relevance of the theories used in the book. With regard to the course for the lay clear and well illustrated style was highlighted on the one hand, on the other hand, the lack of which in more complex situations. From philosophical- metaphysical perspective, there are criticisms of the ideological assumptions of the work, particularly to materialism. Basis for discussion the question of God.