Rules for Eternity
There is No Beginning; There is No End
by John Hunter
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Pub Date Nov 25 2025 | Archive Date Aug 18 2025
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Description
What are the fundamental laws of existence? Do they shape the universe before creation, or do they unfold as life evolves? Is intelligent life a cosmic inevitability or a fleeting accident? And most importantly—what are our true limits as conscious beings?
In Rules for Eternity, John Hunter embarks on a thought-provoking exploration of the biggest scientific and philosophical questions of our time. This book bridges the gap between science and the unknown, merging cosmology, evolution, human psychology, and the role of belief systems to uncover the hidden rules that govern our reality.
A Journey Through Science, Philosophy & the Human Mind
- The Universe’s Blueprint – What cosmic principles shape existence?
- The Origins of Life & Intelligence – Is there a pattern to how life emerges?
- Free Will vs. Determinism – Are we bound by universal laws, or do we have agency?
- The Psychological Need for Gods – How do religion and belief systems shape human understanding?
- The Fate of Intelligent Civilizations – Are we destined for eternity, or are we doomed?
Hunter delivers a compelling, accessible, and deeply insightful discussion that will challenge your perceptions of reality. Whether you're a science enthusiast, a philosophical thinker, or a truth-seeker, Rules for Eternity is a must-read that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
For Readers Who Enjoy:
- The big questions of cosmology and existence
- Books by Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, and Yuval Noah Harari
- The intersection of science, philosophy, and human consciousness
- Exploring deep, mind-expanding ideas
John Hunter grew up in regional Australia, where his curiosity about the natural world took root. He studied Physics and Engineering at the University of Melbourne, learning from some of the country’s top scientists. His lifelong fascination with how things work led him beyond astrophysics and mechanics into the realms of philosophy. After years of research, he felt compelled to contribute his own insights—resulting in Rules for Eternity, a thought-provoking exploration of the principles that shape our universe.
Advance Praise
"In the preface to this book, John Hunter shares the goal of his work - marrying the science of the day with unanswerable questions. As he takes readers through the big questions and the various approaches to arrive at logical answers, the quest feels nothing less than an exciting ride full of discovery.
The book's title, Rules for Eternity, is the perfect teaser for Hunter's central theme that runs through the 12 chapters in the book. What rules determine the existence and evolution of the universe? What rules govern the creation and evolution of life, particularly intelligent life, on a planet? Are these rules pre-determined or do they also come into play at the time of creation? Do we have hope for eternal existence of life or are we doomed for a dismal scenario?
These are just some of the many interesting and important questions the author explores with facts from research in cosmology and examples from everyday science. Hunter discusses various scientific models for universe in the context of their implications for natural and biological rules governing all operations.
Notably, Rules for Eternity is more than a work exploring cosmology via philosophical questions as it pays a good deal of attention to human psychology. Fundamental questions about behavior, instinct, and intelligence are brought up in the context of the book's main themes. Readers also don't miss on seeing the social and psychological roles of religion in shaping human thought on these key points as explored by Hunter in the chapter Why We Need Gods.
In a special and kind of unique chapters in the book, "Science Fiction - A Reality Check", readers go through issues in popular science that are presented in works of science fiction - time travel, artificial intelligence, telepathic communication, etc. Exploring the boundary between scientific reality and science fiction is significant to today's readership as humans increasingly invest time and effort in developing futuristic technologies, a theme Hunter discusses in a following chapter.
Perhaps the most important question that this book attempts to answer is as philosophically grand as it is scientifically challenging: What are our limits? The final chapter "No Beginnings No Ends", also part of the book's subtitle, sums it up full circle. In the vastness of the space and time and surrounded by unending uncertainty, life in the moment is still precious and worth celebrating; in fact more so for these exact reasons.
In Rules for Eternity, John Hunter offers a great serving of food-for-thought for the science enthusiast and truth-seeking minds. It's a discussion the thoughtful reader can't resist nor afford to miss."
Ernest Dempsy (Reedsy)
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9780994262011 |
| PRICE | $4.40 (USD) |
| PAGES | 207 |
