(left) Gravity waves (but who waves back?)
This is from Science Frontiers No. 173, Sep-Oct 2007, pp. 1&2 and sent by Sky Element 115
"Is "something" fine-tuning the universe for life – specifically human life? Fine-tuning the parameters of the universe is akin to the alignments mentioned above, being merely amore extreme example of nonrandomness. The fine-tuning addressed here is enshrined in the so-called Anthropic Principle. P. Davies, in a recent issue of *NewScientist,* provides a definition of the "strong" version of the Anthropic Principle...the laws of physics possess a weird and surprising property: collectively they give the universe the ability to generate life and conscious beings, such as ourselves, who can ponder thebig questions. Scientists never tire of providing examples of bio-friendly coincidences and fortuitous fine-tuning that permit the evolution and continued existence of earth life. A favorite example points out that if protons were just 0.1% heavier than neutrons, instead of vice versa, atoms cold not exist and neither could life chemistry.[A biologist might instead single out the astounding bit of fine-tuning seen in the properties of genomes---but of course genome chemistry is intellectually subservient to physics. Should it be?] Assuming the truth of the Anthropic Principle, P. Davies looks for an explanation---one not involving any religious entity. Reaching instead into the vast grab bag of quantumweirdness, he finds that time really has no meaning so that .the existence of life and observers today has an effect on the past. Ergo, we are permitted what is called "quantumpost-selection." This permits J. Wheeler to claim that: ...the existence of life and observers in the universe today can help bring about the very circumstances neededfor life to emerge. In short, today's life and its bio-friendly universe is the result of actions taken in the future by whatever humans turn out to be! Quantum weirdness allows this just as it permits the weirdness of entanglement. [Circular reasoning here?]"(Davies, Paul; "Laying Down the Laws," NewScientist, p. 30, June 30, 2007)
The secret word is Matter
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6 comments:
But does it matter?
In other weird science news,
human evolution is speeding up.
(Don't tell Mike Huckabee.)
"Circular reasoning here?"
I'll say.... in spades.
The workings of the universe are already exquisite and don't need the rationalizations of this "scientist" to make them so. That lifeforms as we know them are in sync with the so-called "laws of physics" doesn't mean physics has bent over backwards to accomodate life. Life has evolved in response to the physics of the universe at hand. If protons were 0.1% heavier (his example), there would be other universal laws and other life forms and chemistries to match. Life fits the physics we have because it wouldn't have evolved otherwise and there's nothing to be gained by turning the tables and pretending physics is here to fit life.
In fact, you can propose anything he or anyone else does, religious or atheist -- i.e., a creator, fine-tuning, evolution of consciousness (and selfconsciousness, for that matter) effects of the present and future on the past, probable alternate realities, you name it -- without having to change that basic premise. Certainly you don't need his mental gymnastics to explain what ancient thinkers and mystics have noted for centuries. It all fits already.
Back in September when I first read this article, I sent it to my son, a mathematician and consummate logician, to see if he thought the reasoning was as circular and as meaningless as it appeared to me. He said, essentially, that the only thing balanced about this guy was that he had a chip on both shoulders. Out of the mouths of babes....
What Kass said.
Nothing to do with this post, but I can't recall your email. You might be interested in this link to Zombies on the Web.
http://consc.net/zombies.html
Really a sort of teaser for a discussion of philosophical zombies. Worth reading.
Jon,
Great link. I'm pursuing its various components with relish..... currently "sniffing the camembert." Satisfyingly challenging.
There should be a 4th zombie category to describe our administration, most of the House and Senate, CEOs of the corporate occupation and others. It would essentially be the philosophical zombie with the word "conscious" replaced by "conscience," something all of the above are entirely devoid of.
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