Stephen Hawking's idea that the universe had no definite beginning has sparked debates and discussions among physicists since he proposed it. While Hawking's concept challenges the traditional view of a singularity and a distinct starting point for the universe, it has not been universally accepted by the scientific community.

There are physicists who support Hawking's idea, often drawing upon concepts from theoretical physics, such as quantum mechanics and the concept of imaginary time. They argue that the universe could have emerged from a quantum fluctuation or existed in a pre-existing state before the Big Bang. These physicists propose various models, such as the "no-boundary proposal," which suggests that the universe is finite but has no initial boundary point.

On the other hand, there are physicists who maintain the traditional view that the universe did have a definitive beginning at the Big Bang. They argue that our current understanding of cosmology, supported by observational evidence like the cosmic microwave background radiation and the expansion of the universe, points towards a singular starting point.

Debates surrounding Hawking's idea involve complex concepts and theories, and they continue to be explored and refined by physicists through theoretical calculations, observational data, and experiments. It is important to note that the scientific process involves challenging ideas, refining theories, and seeking empirical evidence, so the debates surrounding Hawking's proposal reflect the ongoing nature of scientific inquiry.