Where exactly did I state the universe is unknowable? To say humans haven't clue as to the nature of the universe is hardly the same as claiming the universe is unknowable.
Also, I'm well aware of what Hawking was talking about and the fact that none of you were claiming to know the beginning of the universe. I was pointing out that, for now, even the great minds of our time don't know the full truth...hence the title Theoretical Physicist.
As for the recent discovery comment. Yes, a few well educated individuals were aware of a spherical Earth, but they kept that knowledge to themselves for fear of being burned at the stake for going against the mainstream view of a flat Earth. Funny, not much has changed.
By the way Neverfly, thousands of years are really nothing considering exactly how many millions of years our species spent in the stone age. We really are only just beginning to figure things out, but as always our massive egos get in the way, causing us to puff up like angry gorillas.
Any way, I see no point in further discussions. I assumed this was an environment like my university...a place to toss around a few ideas without others feeling the need to prove their superiority (do I hear the sounds of fists beating down upon a mighty chest?) and telling someone they might fit in nicely in the BAUT forum. Yes great and wise moderator, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your condescension didn't go to waste...you really are the alpha male.
Good-bye and good luck and try to pull yourselves away from that computer once in a while...there's big world out there. Oh. and just so there's no doubt, I do know its round and floats around a big glowing ball.