The New Universe and the Human Future: How a Shared Cosmology Could Transform the World

257 Pages·2011·9.8 MB·English

by  Nancy Ellen Abrams

THE TERRY LECTURES
The New Universe and the Human Future
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The New Universe
and the
Human Future
How a Shared Cosmology
Could Transform the World
NANCY ELLEN ABRAMS AND JOEL R. PRIMACK
New Haven & London
Published with assistance from the foundation established in memory of
Philip Hamilton McMillan of the Class of 1894, Yale College.
Copyright © 2011 by Abrams & Primack, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form
(beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the US Copyright Law and except
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Designed by James J. Johnson.
Set in Linotype Centennial by Tseng Information Systems, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Abrams, Nancy Ellen, 1948–
The new universe and the human future : how a shared cosmology could
transform the world / Nancy Ellen Abrams, Joel R. Primack.
p. cm. — (The Terry lectures series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-300-16508-1 (hardback)
1. Cosmology—Philosophy. 2. Life—Origin—Philosophy. I. Primack, J. R. (Joel R.) II. Title.
QB981.A343 2011
523.101—dc22
2010044895
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992
(Permanence of Paper).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Samara Bay and her fellow artists,
in whose hands rests the portrayal of
the new universe and the human future
The Dwight Harrington Terry Foundation Lectures on
Religion in the Light of Science and Philosophy
The deed of gift declares that “the object of this foundation is not the promotion
of scientific investigation and discovery, but rather the assimilation and interpre-
tation of that which has been or shall be hereafter discovered, and its application
to human welfare, especially by the building of the truths of science and philoso-
phy into the structure of a broadened and purified religion. The founder believes
that such a religion will greatly stimulate intelligent effort for the improvement
of human conditions and the advancement of the race in strength and excellence
of character. To this end it is desired that a series of lectures be given by men
eminent in their respective departments, on ethics, the history of civilization and
religion, biblical research, all sciences and branches of knowledge which have an
important bearing on the subject, all the great laws of nature, especially of evolu-
tion . . . also such interpretations of literature and sociology as are in accord with
the spirit of this foundation, to the end that the Christian spirit may be nurtured
in the fullest light of the world’s knowledge and that mankind may be helped to
attain its highest possible welfare and happiness upon this earth.” The present
work constitutes the latest volume published on this foundation.
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Chapter 1. The New Universe 1
Chapter 2. Size Is Destiny 27
Chapter 3. We Are Stardust 39
Chapter 4. Our Place in Time 67
Chapter 5. This Cosmically Pivotal Moment 79
Chapter 6. Bringing the Universe Down to Earth 99
Chapter 7. A New Origin Story 119
Chapter 8. Cosmic Society Now 143
Frequently Asked Questions 167
Notes 207
Recommendations for Further Reading 213
About the Illustrations 223
Index 233
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Acknowledgments
A great thank you to Priyamvada Natarajan and the other members
of the Terry Lectures committee at Yale University for so graciously
hosting us in New Haven in October 2009 for the two weeks of our
Terry Lectures, and to Lauralee Fields for making it all run amazingly
smoothly. More thanks to our agent, Douglas Carlton Abrams, whose
advice and help are invaluable, and to our wonderful and tireless assis-
tant, Nina McCurdy, for her careful work assembling our many figures
and artistically creating several of them. Thanks and thanks and ever
thanks to our brilliant daughter, Samara Bay, whose editing has been a
window not only into the English language but also into the artistry of
storytelling and the outlook of her generation. To our manuscript edi-
tor, Laura Jones Dooley, much appreciation for her careful work and
bubbling enthusiasm. And finally, to our dream editor at Yale Univer-
sity Press, Jean E. Thomson Black, who has understood the deepest
goals of this book from the start and fought for us: we know how lucky
we are, and we’re immensely grateful.