Stephen Hawking Needs to Keep Quiet

Back in the 1970s, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist named William Shockley created quite a stir when he suggested that certain races (i.e., black people) were genetically inferior to whites and Asians, and that in order for the human race to have any chance of improving itself, people with IQs lower than 100 should submit to voluntary sterilization. Other than that, nothing he said was particularly controversial.

What made Shockleys pronouncements so outrageous, besides their obvious inflammatory nature, was their provenance. After all, this wasnt some hack, ex-Navy science fiction writer like L. Ron Hubbard introducing a new, screwball religion (Scientology ) to the masses. This was a brilliant scientist talking. Shockley won the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics, and now he was going on record with a profoundly radical and transformative theory. It was big news.

Of course, what followed was predictable. His fellow scientists pointed out that, while Shockley may have been a genius when it came to semiconductors and transistors, he was woefully unprepared and unqualified to speak on the topic of genetics. Indeed, he was so far outside his element, his so-called findings were embarrassing. Which brings us to Stephen Hawking, the worlds favorite theoretical physicist.

Fearing that the Earth will one day be destroyed by a colliding asteroid, or by widespread epidemics, or by over-population, or the cumulative effects of climate change, Hawking was recently quoted as saying, I think the human race has no future if it doesnt go into space. Moreover, he insists that we must do it must accomplish our evacuation within the next 100 years.

There are at least two problems with this nutty advice. (1) Hawking is talking about stuff hes not qualified to talk about stuff that would cause a lesser mortal to be laughed off the podium, and (2) trying to convince the people of Earth that future life on our planet is not worth investing in is not only exhibitionist and irresponsible, its dangerously defeatist.

When Hawking talks about black holes, or time-travel, or multiple universes, his remarks, while unproven and basically unprovable, are intriguing and fascinating. For one thing, very few people are smart enough to step forward and refute what he says, and for another, all that far-out stuff about worm-holes and six dimensions is very cool way cooler than garden variety terrestrial science.

But just because Hawking is a genius doesnt mean everything he says is accurate.

Instead of focusing our resources on saving and protecting Earth, he wants us to abandon it. Really, Stephen? You honestly think that pulling up stakes is the answer? Surely, he has to know that you cant do both that you cant commit yourself totally to saving the planet while simultaneously putting your resources into finding a new one.

Also, whos going to break the news to Sudan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Guatemala, et al? Whos going to tell them that, after giving the matter careful thought, weve decided to pack up and move to a better neighborhood, all because some weirdo physicist convinced us it was our only choice. As for all that lofty talk about fighting world poverty and reducing carbon emissions? Forget about it.

And, of course, it goes without saying that the rich and well-connected will be the first to jump ship. The poorest and most desolate Earthlings will be condemned to remain. They will euphemistically be referred to as the stay-behinds. Donald Trump will have his own word for them. Losers.

David Macaray is a playwright and author, whose latest book is How to Win Friends and Avoid Sacred Cows: Weird Adventures in India: Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims When the Peace Corps was New. Everything you ever wanted to know about India but were afraid to ask. He can be reached at: [email protected]. Read other articles by David.

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