Anthropic coincidences

From ResearchID.org

Contents 1 Type  (?) 2 Level  (?) 3 Definition  (?) 4 Objectives  (?) 5 Questions  (?) 6 Keywords  (?) 7 Monographs  (?) 8 eResources  (?) 9 Criticism  (?) 10 Status  (?) 11 Extend  (?) 12 Related  (?) 13 Notes  (?) 14 Field(s)  (?)

Introduction  (?)
Many aspects of the physical universe seem peculiarly fit for the existence of intelligent biological life (humans, Gr. anthropoi). The physics of space, time, gravity, electromagnetism, strong & weak nuclear forces, friction, and energy all operate and exist in such a way that intelligent life is possible. The elements and compounds of matter, and their intelligibility, seem ideal for intelligent life. The type, age, and relative position of the Sun all help make life on Earth possible. The position of Earth in the universe, the Milky Way galaxy, and our solar system has a strangely high fitness biological life and the activities of science. Plate tectonics, the Van Allen Belts, the hydrologic cycle, and many other geological features of our planet Earth give us a proper environment to live in. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere make the sky nearly transparent and controlled fires possible, data recording capabilities of Earth’s cycles, and fossil preservation are only a few of the ways the earth is a robust locus of data and knowledge. The composition and extreme efficiency of the biological cell, DNA, protein functions, and intelligence all make humanity capable of living and knowing. Even our own bodies and minds, the size and shape of our hands, our highly complex linguistic capabilities (that only humans have), our visual acuity, and our erect body plan, all make science possible.

Does it only seem like many aspects of the universe are ideally suited to human existence and activity? Is this situation only the appearance of purpose? Is this only a massive coincidence?

Type  (?)

Praxis, Theoria

Level  (?)

ALL: Undergraduate, Graduate, Doctorate, Postdoctorate

Definition  (?)

Investigate the circumstances in our universe that make intelligent life possible. Because this research is so wide-ranging, a strict definition is not helpful.

Objectives  (?)

Research, catalogue, and compile more facts to add to the already burgening list of coincidences.

Questions  (?)

• How much "appearance of design" need be recognized before it is seen as real design?
• How much scientific evidence needs to be supplied before design is admitted into science?

Keywords  (?)

Anthropic Coincidences, Anthropic Cosmological Principle, Strong Anthropic, Weak Anthropic, Cosmological Design, fine-tuning

Monographs  (?)

The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, Barrow and Tipler, ISBN 0192821474.

The Privileged Planet, Gonzalez and Richards, ISBN 0895260654.

eResources  (?)

eResources

• Barrow and Tipler
• Reasons to Believe List

Criticism  (?)

• Probabilities of Universe Types
• Hostility of universe types to intelligence (would a different universe merely have a different form of intelligence?)

Status  (?)

Current

• Barrow and Tipler
• Richards and Gonzalez (Privileged Planet)

Extend  (?)

• Teleology and purpose seem like a more reasonable, and more parsimonious, explanation for these coincidences.
• Occam’s Razor seems to beg the question of teleology

Related  (?)

Privileged Planet

Notes  (?)

Field(s)  (?)