Feb 13 2009
The Anthropic Puddle
One of the best criticisms of the anthropic principle — that it appears the universe were created just for us — comes from the late science-fiction writer, Douglas Adams. If you haven’t encountered this before, it is definitely worth a read. Here it is in total.
. . . imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, ‘This is an interesting world I find myself in, an interesting hole I find myself in, fits me rather neatly, doesn’t it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!’ This is such a powerful idea that as the sun rises in the sky and the air heats up and as, gradually, the puddle gets smaller and smaller, it’s still frantically hanging on to the notion that everything’s going to be alright, because this world was meant to have him in it, was built to have him in it; so the moment he disappears catches him rather by surprise. I think this may be something we need to be on the watch out for.
Nuff said.
You mean: One of the best criticisms of the teleological argument — that it appears the universe was created just for us…
You actually are a fan of the anthropic principle, which states that the universe apparently ended up this particular way because we are here to observe it. :D
Bob – Good point about the teleological argument. Though might a case also be made that it reflects the kind of thinking behind the strong anthropic principle?
But as for my being a “fan” of the anthropic principle, I would disagree. Though my thinking may at times be compatible with it, I understand that the universe need not make sense. Quantum observations being a good example.