The struggle to mold our future, to stave off the humanitarian disasters of war, disease, and starvation leaves little room to be philosophical about our place on this crumb of cosmic dust. But many scientists, including me, have a sense that the universe might be about to reach in and give us a metaphorical slap in the face.
我们的日常活动往往会忽视这样的生存背景。创造未来、避免战争、饥饿、疾病等人道主义灾难的艰苦斗争往往令我们鲜有余力从哲学的角度思考我们在这微不足道的宇宙尘埃上起什么作用。但众多科学家，包括我本人在内，敏锐地感到宇宙可能会用一记响亮的耳光来警告我们。