or for small-scale private distribution (e.g., reading groups, etc.) is o.k. without permission. ... more or for small-scale private distribution (e.g., reading groups, etc.) is o.k. without permission. The Evidence of Fine-tuning Suppose we went on a mission to Mars, and found a domed structure in which everything was set up just right for life to exist. The temperature, for example, was set around 70o F and the humidity was at 50%; moreover, there was an oxygen recycling system, an energy gathering
Page 1. 1 Modern Physics and the Energy Conservation Objection to Mind-Body Dualism 1 RobinCollin... more Page 1. 1 Modern Physics and the Energy Conservation Objection to Mind-Body Dualism 1 RobinCollins Messiah College Abstract: One of the most commonly cited objections to substance dualism is that it violates the principle of energy conservation (PEC). ...
In the last thirty years, the argument from the fine-tuning of the cosmos has steadily gained in ... more In the last thirty years, the argument from the fine-tuning of the cosmos has steadily gained in popularity, often being considered the strongest single argument for the existence of God. The "fine-tuning" of the cosmos refers to the claim that the fundamental parameters or constants of physics and the initial conditions of the universe are set just right for life to occur. (1) To give two of many examples, if the strong force coupling constant, which determines the strength of the strong force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, were slightly less, the electrical repulsion between protons would cause all atoms except hydrogen to break apart, thus eliminating the possibility of complex life forms such as ourselves; on the other hand, if this constant were slightly greater, all the hydrogen in the early universe would have been burned to helium, thus causing stars to burn too quickly for life to evolve. Similarly, it is estimated that unless the cosmolo...
We say a constant of physics C is fine-tuned for life if the width, Wr, of the range of values of... more We say a constant of physics C is fine-tuned for life if the width, Wr, of the range of values of the constant that permit, or are optimal for, the existence of intelligent life is small compared to the width, WR, of some properly chosen comparison range R: that is, if Wr/WR << 1. 1 [Wr could also stand for the sum of the widths of the intelligent-life-permitting regions.] The range r of intelligent life-permitting values is determined via physical calculations and thus, apart from debates about what is meant by intelligent life, is largely unproblematic from a philosophical perspective. In contrast, the choice of R cannot be decided by physical considerations alone. An outstanding issue for developing the fine-tuning argument (FTA), therefore, is to find a plausible methodology for choosing R. The proper way of choosing R will hinge on the method of
Robin Collins. In this review essay, Robin Collins critically evaluates William Dembski's me... more Robin Collins. In this review essay, Robin Collins critically evaluates William Dembski's methodology for inferring to design as articulated in Dembski's book The Design Inference: Eliminating Chance Through Small Probabilities . ...
FINE-TUNING In the past 30 years, physicists have discovered that the basic structure of the univ... more FINE-TUNING In the past 30 years, physicists have discovered that the basic structure of the universe is set exactly right for the existence of life. If the structure were slightly different, such as the strength of gravity being slightly stronger, life would not be possible. Many people, in turn, have taken this fine-tuning as evidence that the universe was intelligently designed. Weinberg offers two major responses. First, he says he is “not impressed with these supposed instances of fine-tuning”; second, he says, even if there are good cases of fine-tuning, they can be explained by the so-called many-universes hypothesis.
This chapter will explicate a new teleological argument for theism, one based on the intelligibil... more This chapter will explicate a new teleological argument for theism, one based on the intelligibility of the universe and the science-friendly character of the laws of nature. Specifically, it begins by presenting some of the preliminary evidence that the fundamental parameters of physics fall in a relatively small range that maximizes our ability to make scientific discoveries. This is called as the “fine-tuning for scientific discovery.” It then shows how this fine-tuning provides potentially powerful new evidence for theism. Unlike the much discussed anthropic fine-tuning (or fine-tuning for life), this kind of fine-tuning cannot be explained by the multiverse hypothesis since it does not encounter an observer-selection effect. Further, it avoids some other objections commonly raised against the anthropic fine-tuning argument, such as the so-called normalizability problem. Consequently, this new fine-tuning argument has the potential of providing an outstanding supplement to the s...
or for small-scale private distribution (e.g., reading groups, etc.) is o.k. without permission. ... more or for small-scale private distribution (e.g., reading groups, etc.) is o.k. without permission. The Evidence of Fine-tuning Suppose we went on a mission to Mars, and found a domed structure in which everything was set up just right for life to exist. The temperature, for example, was set around 70o F and the humidity was at 50%; moreover, there was an oxygen recycling system, an energy gathering
Page 1. 1 Modern Physics and the Energy Conservation Objection to Mind-Body Dualism 1 RobinCollin... more Page 1. 1 Modern Physics and the Energy Conservation Objection to Mind-Body Dualism 1 RobinCollins Messiah College Abstract: One of the most commonly cited objections to substance dualism is that it violates the principle of energy conservation (PEC). ...
In the last thirty years, the argument from the fine-tuning of the cosmos has steadily gained in ... more In the last thirty years, the argument from the fine-tuning of the cosmos has steadily gained in popularity, often being considered the strongest single argument for the existence of God. The "fine-tuning" of the cosmos refers to the claim that the fundamental parameters or constants of physics and the initial conditions of the universe are set just right for life to occur. (1) To give two of many examples, if the strong force coupling constant, which determines the strength of the strong force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, were slightly less, the electrical repulsion between protons would cause all atoms except hydrogen to break apart, thus eliminating the possibility of complex life forms such as ourselves; on the other hand, if this constant were slightly greater, all the hydrogen in the early universe would have been burned to helium, thus causing stars to burn too quickly for life to evolve. Similarly, it is estimated that unless the cosmolo...
We say a constant of physics C is fine-tuned for life if the width, Wr, of the range of values of... more We say a constant of physics C is fine-tuned for life if the width, Wr, of the range of values of the constant that permit, or are optimal for, the existence of intelligent life is small compared to the width, WR, of some properly chosen comparison range R: that is, if Wr/WR << 1. 1 [Wr could also stand for the sum of the widths of the intelligent-life-permitting regions.] The range r of intelligent life-permitting values is determined via physical calculations and thus, apart from debates about what is meant by intelligent life, is largely unproblematic from a philosophical perspective. In contrast, the choice of R cannot be decided by physical considerations alone. An outstanding issue for developing the fine-tuning argument (FTA), therefore, is to find a plausible methodology for choosing R. The proper way of choosing R will hinge on the method of
Robin Collins. In this review essay, Robin Collins critically evaluates William Dembski's me... more Robin Collins. In this review essay, Robin Collins critically evaluates William Dembski's methodology for inferring to design as articulated in Dembski's book The Design Inference: Eliminating Chance Through Small Probabilities . ...
FINE-TUNING In the past 30 years, physicists have discovered that the basic structure of the univ... more FINE-TUNING In the past 30 years, physicists have discovered that the basic structure of the universe is set exactly right for the existence of life. If the structure were slightly different, such as the strength of gravity being slightly stronger, life would not be possible. Many people, in turn, have taken this fine-tuning as evidence that the universe was intelligently designed. Weinberg offers two major responses. First, he says he is “not impressed with these supposed instances of fine-tuning”; second, he says, even if there are good cases of fine-tuning, they can be explained by the so-called many-universes hypothesis.
This chapter will explicate a new teleological argument for theism, one based on the intelligibil... more This chapter will explicate a new teleological argument for theism, one based on the intelligibility of the universe and the science-friendly character of the laws of nature. Specifically, it begins by presenting some of the preliminary evidence that the fundamental parameters of physics fall in a relatively small range that maximizes our ability to make scientific discoveries. This is called as the “fine-tuning for scientific discovery.” It then shows how this fine-tuning provides potentially powerful new evidence for theism. Unlike the much discussed anthropic fine-tuning (or fine-tuning for life), this kind of fine-tuning cannot be explained by the multiverse hypothesis since it does not encounter an observer-selection effect. Further, it avoids some other objections commonly raised against the anthropic fine-tuning argument, such as the so-called normalizability problem. Consequently, this new fine-tuning argument has the potential of providing an outstanding supplement to the s...
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