The Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking, is a 2010 book which propounds the notion that cosmology and quantum mechanics can provide a complete unified theory of the universe and its laws. The book is also an in-depth exploration of the nature of space, time, and the very fabric of reality.
Hawking's work in The Grand Design consists of a comprehensive exploration of the major branches of modern physical theories. He covers a wide range of topics including classical mechanics, the general theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, statistical mechanics, cosmology, and string theory. Indeed, The Grand Design contains a strong infusion of Hawking's lifelong interest in the universe and his unparalleled ability to explicate complex scientific concepts in accessible language.
The Grand Design offers a comprehensive view of modern cosmology and its implications for humanity. Hawking asserts that no supernatural entity has a role in the history and operation of the natural universe. Rather, Hawking proposes a so-called “M-theory” which consists of a grand unifying theory of the universe and its laws. Hawking's idea is that the universe works like a “self-creating” machine, wherein the laws of physics are ultimately responsible for generating the universe from nothing.
Hawking also examines the implications of M-theory and its implications for humanity. The most radical of those implications, according to Hawking, are that humans are neither privileged nor unique in the universe. Rather, humanity is just another part of the natural universe and its laws. This, he suggests, gives rise to a sense of awe, for it reveals the grandeur of the universe in which we live.
Without a doubt, Hawking’s The Grand Design is an important and wide-ranging debate in contemporary cosmology. For the physicist and the layman alike, Hawking’s book is an invaluable source of insight into the structure and operation of the universe. In clear, concise language, Hawking examines the major questions in cosmology and offers a naturalistic view of the universe. Through its exploration of the grand design of the universe, The Grand Design reveals a beauty beyond the everyday.
