On being clear about time. An analysis of a chapter of Stephen Hawking's a brief history of time

Abstract

Stephen Hawking's best-seller A Brief History of Time has been much praised for the clarity with which it expounds twentieth-century physics for the layperson. If this is clear exposition, what, then, constitutes clarity? It is possible for scientific prose to be clear, yet hard to read. Hawking, as well as being clear, is not hard to read as prose, although most laypersons will find the content challenging, at the very least; clear writing does not necessarily mean easy content. Language may be complex, but if its structure is transparent, then it may also be very clear. This paper analyses chapter four of A Brief History of Time, seeking the qualities that may have led to the book's reputation for clarity.