Interlude, Nausea, Chapter 9, Waiting for the Final Theory, Interlude, A Word on Many Worlds Summary and Analysis

In the interlude, we fine Holt landing in Austin to meet with Weinberg only to discover that his dog has collapsed in his absence and has cancer that has metastasized and is going to kill him. Renzo had to be put to sleep. It was difficult for Holt to maintain his composure during the euthanasia. After saying goodbye to his dog, he calls Weinberg in Austin to talk to him.

Weinberg's basic line on Holt's question is that a final physical theory might provide an answer. It might explain, say, why there has to be something rather than nothing. Religion, for Weinberg, doesn't help. We just have to face a hard to comprehend universe. As...