A self-described "intellectual odyssey," the site is partly a study and a celebration of the 1967 Stanley Kubrick movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and the novel by Arthur C. Clarke on which it is based; and partly an interactive presentation of a classic philosophical argument for the existence of God, the "argument from design."
All students of philosophy sooner or later encounter the "classic" arguments propounded for the existence of God, among them the so-called teleological argument, often referred to as the "argument from design." The argument, which is based on the order and design of the cosmos and upon its apparent purposiveness, may be summarized as follows: the universe, from the smallest subatomic particles to the vast clusters of numberless galaxies, represents a complexity of design which can only be the product of a designing intelligence.
To cause us to arrive at this conclusion, the The 2001 Principle site takes its visitors through an appreciative hypertext summary and analysis of Kubrick's movie which culminates in an interpretation of the events of its famously enigmatic climax. Along the way, it draws upon for supporting evidence everything from the theory of cognitive dissonance and its relationship to scientific progress; to evolutionary theory; to examples of design in nature; to the "anthropic principle" (the idea that "the universe was brought into existence intentionally for the sake of producing mankind"); to Sir Fred Hoyle's confident assertion:
. . . there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. I do not believe that any physicist who examined the evidence could fail to draw the inference that the laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed with regard to the consequences they produce within stars.
At the conclusion of its metaphysical tour, the site presents the argument of Frederick Ferre: "Suppose a case of books filled with the most refined reason and exquisite beauty were found to be produced by nature; in this event it would be absurd to doubt that their original cause was anything short of intelligence. But every common biological organism is more intricately articulated, more astoundingly put together, that the most sublime literary composition... Despite all evasions, the ultimate agency of intelligence stares one in the face" (Frederick Ferre, Basic Modern Philosophy of Religion, Scribner's , 1967, 161).
Take this hypertext tour and find out for yourself why the argument from design has persuaded thinkers for centuries. Whether metaphysics is your interest, or merely Kubrick and Clarke's celebrated cinematic collaboration, you'll find The 2001 Principle to be an intriguing stop on your philosophical Web rounds.
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