From a facebook conversation I just had …

Werner Herzog said:

The universe is monstrously indifferent to the presence of man.

My response:

Even from a strictly secular perspective, I think one could argue that the universe *does* care about man, through the humans in it that are a part of it. After all, if you’re going to ask what the universe cares about, the appropriate interpretation is to ask what those parts of the universe that care, care about. The fact that stars and atomic elements don’t care just means that where the universe cares it doesn’t use those parts to do so.

 

I know that’s sort of missing the point of the quote, but I still think it’s an interesting way to think about things.