Fine-tuning, multiple universes, and the "this universe" objection

Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 84 (1):67–83 (2003)
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Abstract

When it is suggested that the fine‐tuning of the universe for life provides evidence for a cosmic designer, the multiple‐universe hypothesis is often presented as an alternative. Some philosophers object that the multiple‐universe hypothesis fails to explain why this universe is fine‐tuned for life. We suggest the “This Universe” objection is no better than the “This Planet” objection. We also fault proponents of the “This Universe” objection for presupposing that we could not have existed in any other universe and that the values of the free parameters of the Universe could have been different. Lastly, we reflect on why fine‐tuning for life needs explaining.

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Neil A. Manson
University of Mississippi

Citations of this work

Calling for Explanation.Dan Baras - 2022 - New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
What Makes Something Surprising?Dan Baras & Oded Na’Aman - 2022 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 105 (1):195-215.
Fine-Tuning Should Make Us More Confident that Other Universes Exist.Bradford Saad - 2024 - American Philosophical Quarterly 61 (1):29-44.
Probabilistic arguments for multiple universes.Kai Draper, Paul Draper & Joel Pust - 2007 - Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 88 (3):288–307.

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References found in this work

Probability and Evidence.Paul Horwich - 1982 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 47 (4):687-688.
Chance.F. P. Ramsey - forthcoming - Philosophical Papers. Dh Mellor. New York, Cambridge University Press.
God of Chance.D. J. Bartholomew - 1985 - Religious Studies 21 (4):622-624.

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