The radical novelty of modern science lies precisely in the rejection of the belief, which is at the heart of all popular religion, that the forces which move the stars and atoms are contingent upon the preferences of the human heart.

Richard Adams's quote delves into the fundamental shift that modern science introduced in our understanding of the universe. By stating, "The radical novelty of modern science lies precisely in the rejection of the belief... that the forces which move the stars and atoms are contingent upon the preferences of the human heart," Adams is emphasizing how scientific progress challenged the age-old belief that the universe and its laws are influenced by human desire, emotion, or will. Traditional religions often held that the natural world was shaped by divine will or human-centered intentions, whereas modern science rejects this view, seeing the universe as governed by objective, impersonal laws.

The key idea here is the separation between religion and science, particularly in how each views the interaction between humans and the cosmos. In many religions, the divine is often believed to directly influence natural events—such as the movements of the stars or the workings of atoms—in response to human actions or prayers. Modern science, on the other hand, operates on the premise that the universe follows laws of nature that are independent of human desire or emotion, governed by objective principles like gravity, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.

Adams’s statement highlights the revolutionary nature of modern science in shifting the worldview from one where human beings are seen as central to the workings of the universe to one where humanity is just a small part of a vast, impersonal system. This shift represents a significant departure from the anthropocentric view that has characterized much of human history, especially in religious contexts. By rejecting the idea that human preferences can influence cosmic forces, science emphasizes the autonomy and determinism of the natural world.

The origin of this quote lies in Adams’s engagement with the philosophical and scientific changes that have shaped modern thought. As an author and thinker, Adams was influenced by the scientific revolution and its impact on our understanding of the world. His quote serves as a reminder of how science fundamentally restructured humanity's conception of cosmic order and our place in the universe, emphasizing that nature operates on principles beyond the scope of human influence.