Comments on: TIA Tuesday: Imagine there’s no heaven

By: jorgaba

jorgaba — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:46:30 +0000

B8ovin,

Check out Victor Stenger’s “Is the universe fine-tuned for us?” :

http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Cosmo/FineTune.pdf

By: B8ovin

B8ovin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:47:58 +0000

I should preface this by saying that I am not a physicist, philosopher or a professional in these realms in any way (probably evident at this point), but your posts have always made me think more deeply about issues involving my atheism. That said, here are some questions I have entertained (which could be treated as rhetorical or answered if anyone had the desire):
Doesn’t the size of the universe argue against the anthropic principle? I would assume the anthropic principle would be valid only in a smaller universe where the conclusions would be more evident.
Aren’t unknowns potential killers of the assumptions of the anthropic principle? It seems to me that the discovery of other forms of life that require markedly different resources and conditions would argue that the universe itself is adaptive and therefore the assumption of it being “programmed” or “fine tuned” would be found false.
Finally, is the Earth itself really fine tuned? Given the age of life and the vast adaptabilities of forms and environments, can’t it be argued more reasonably that LIFE is fine tuned for the universe (the sample of Earth being our only laboratory)?

By: valdemar

valdemar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:01:23 +0000

Excellent summary of why VD is a bit pathetic. Instead of offering grownup arguments in rational debate he swaggers among toadies even more intellectually challenged than himself.

And now Dr Dawkins gets to be on Doctor Who as the voice of science. I wonder what TV show might offer VD a cameo role? Something that involves pie throwing, screened well after midnight, I suppose.