Clearly in regards to desirable traits, we are all biased towards sentience because it is a trait we possess. "The universe came to be by a cosmic intelligence because it appears intelligent, and we appear intelligent." Yet, just as easily, one could examine this same universe and come to the conclusion that "The universe came to be by cosmic laws because all appears to be ruled by cosmic law and sentience is the result of both time and direction guided by said cosmic law."
Of course one could argue: "Well, who made these cosmic laws?"
And one could answer: "The laws abided by our universe are a product of the universe's formation. Like matter, energy, and time, they are interdependent."
"What determined their interdependence then?"
"It seems most probable other laws, though the pre-big bang period is still being studied extensively."
I haven't actually read Hawking and Mlodinow's "The Grand Design" yet, and I'm not well versed in the M-theory so I can't elaborate much on that point; but, assuming there is an intelligence or intelligences -- what if god, or gods evolved? What if a rise to sentience was a gradual one for these celestial beings as well as organic ones, guided by the same non-sentient forces?
What if the gods have a lineage? The perpetrator of the 'big bang' created a vast universe with upwards of 100 billion galaxies, and if you're a proponent of the multiverse theory, quite possibly infinite others. What if the god/gods who took such a very special interest in this speck of rock we call Earth is a descendant of these (possibly near infinite) chain of deities? Since the existence and nature of these proposed creatures has never gone past speculation, or has any methodology in which to test their potential existence, it would be impossible to say with any degree of certainty what they are and what they are not -- what attributes they possess, and what attributes they do not possess, as the definition of 'god' and 'gods' is an incredibly fluid one. Intriguing concepts to muse over; however, self-awareness isn't a necessary component of the universe's known makeup, and proposing such an idea seems rather frivolous considering it's lack of evidentiary support.
Of course one could argue: "Well, who made these cosmic laws?"
And one could answer: "The laws abided by our universe are a product of the universe's formation. Like matter, energy, and time, they are interdependent."
"What determined their interdependence then?"
"It seems most probable other laws, though the pre-big bang period is still being studied extensively."
I haven't actually read Hawking and Mlodinow's "The Grand Design" yet, and I'm not well versed in the M-theory so I can't elaborate much on that point; but, assuming there is an intelligence or intelligences -- what if god, or gods evolved? What if a rise to sentience was a gradual one for these celestial beings as well as organic ones, guided by the same non-sentient forces?
What if the gods have a lineage? The perpetrator of the 'big bang' created a vast universe with upwards of 100 billion galaxies, and if you're a proponent of the multiverse theory, quite possibly infinite others. What if the god/gods who took such a very special interest in this speck of rock we call Earth is a descendant of these (possibly near infinite) chain of deities? Since the existence and nature of these proposed creatures has never gone past speculation, or has any methodology in which to test their potential existence, it would be impossible to say with any degree of certainty what they are and what they are not -- what attributes they possess, and what attributes they do not possess, as the definition of 'god' and 'gods' is an incredibly fluid one. Intriguing concepts to muse over; however, self-awareness isn't a necessary component of the universe's known makeup, and proposing such an idea seems rather frivolous considering it's lack of evidentiary support.
"Faith is about taking a comforting, childlike view of a disturbing and complicated world." ~ Edward Current