Hawking was a bozo. The sheer arrogance of the man for being so arrogant. So-called "geniuses" such as Melville or Feynman or even the late Steven P. Jobs were also arrogant, therefore it is morally imperative to downplay these men for their accomplishments, instead of understanding them as individuals with human flaws. Oh, the pretension of these "scientists" to believe they are somehow closer to "reality" because they use a process of observation to achieve some objective understanding. Hogwash, I say. Hog. Wash. We Philosophers have no need for such blandishments like "science," whose enterprise is seemingly always in flux as theories, which are hypothesis supported by evidence, are discarded or revised as new data is collected. But Philosophy? We can explain why a flower is beautiful. That happiness is possible just as long as you believe in yourself!
But, yes, it is entirely reasonable to discredit Mr. Hawking's life's work because he was so arrogant to have opinions. He was, after all, a physicist. And physicists are so arrogant as to say ghosts are not possible because of the dynamics of atoms and such things. No matter how well-supported opinions might be. It's the arrogance that should be considered. Just as it's morally imperative to discredit all of Melville's work because he was, in fact, a racist. I often like to stand before a room and denounce Melville and Darwin for their racism, not their work, and wait with great anticipation for the adulation I so strongly desire.
