Brief Answers to the Big Questions

In Chapter 10, Hawking wraps up his ideas regarding humanity’s future. He repeats his concerns about environmental degradation, the threat of nuclear war, and the need to colonize other planets so that human populations are dispersed and can thus survive any single planet’s disasters, highlighting the book’s theme of The Dangers of Modernity. In addition, he establishes his belief that our potential has no ceiling, which supports the book’s theme of A Limitless Future.

Hawking emphasizes the importance of inspiring young people to become interested in science. He believes that, as science and engineering become increasingly important to society, education must draw more people to careers in these fields. Instead, he argues, some educators tend to present science as boring or tedious. He expects that the internet will help revolutionize education and bring back the thrill of scientific discovery that he felt as a kid.

At the chapter’s end, almost as a postscript, Hawking asserts his belief that nuclear power (along with electric cars) would go a long way toward solving many of the environmental problems we now face. It’s a quick “for example” about what people can do to begin improving the situation on Earth—but it’s also controversial: Nuclear power plants have long been pariahs for their spectacular failures, and support for them generates strong pushback. Hawking was familiar with controversy: His political and religious views sometimes sparked outrage; nevertheless, he always remained firm in his beliefs. Nuclear power, he argues, could replace the vastly deadlier effects of fossil fuels. Electric cars, fed on such energy, would basically be pollution free (though the book doesn’t address the valid concern about nuclear waste). Hawking’s opinions, right or wrong, served as a model for effective teaching and learning: By taking controversial stands and inviting reasoned debate about them, he was trying to encourage people to open their minds, have the courage to express their views, and be brave enough to question everything—including their own opinions.

Despite his pessimism about the chances to avoid a worldwide disaster, Hawking ends his book by reasserting the theme of A Limitless Future, exhorting young people to learn science and use it to build a better society—one that’s fair to all, peaceful, and respectful toward the environment. In addition, he hopes that future generations will head boldly into space in case life on Earth doesn’t pan out.

Lucy Hawking’s Afterword poignantly expresses the joy she experienced as Hawking’s daughter and the grief she felt at his death. Her words reveal her heartfelt love and parallel the admiration that many people throughout the world have expressed for her father, who could barely move himself and yet shifted humanity’s view of the universe.