Should we care about fine-tuning?
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 56 (2):303-319 (2005)
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate over cosmological fine-tuning between those holding that design is the best explanation and those who favor a multiverse. A small group of critics has recently challenged both sides, charging that their probabilistic intuitions are unfounded. If the critics are correct, then a growing literature in both philosophy and physics lacks a mathematical foundation. In this paper, I show that just such a foundation exists. Cosmologists are now providing the kinds of measure-theoretic arguments needed to make the case for fine-tuning. Introduction Probability and infinite sets 2.1 No probability function 2.2 Arbitrary and wrong probability functions The measure of the universe The coarse-tuning objection Arbitrariness and error Conclusion.Author's Profile
DOI
10.1093/bjps/axi118
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Citations of this work
Teleological Arguments for God’s Existence.Jeffrey Koperski & Del Ratzsch - 2015 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Explaining the Fine Tuning of the Universe to Us and the Fine Tuning of Us to the Universe.Tim Mawson - 2011 - Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement 68:25-50.
Finely Tuned Models Sacrifice Explanatory Depth.Feraz Azhar & Abraham Loeb - 2021 - Foundations of Physics 51 (5):1-36.
References found in this work
A critical look at inflationary cosmology.John Earman & Jesus Mosterin - 1999 - Philosophy of Science 66 (1):1-49.
Probabilities and the fine-tuning argument: A sceptical view.Timothy McGrew, Lydia McGrew & and Eric Vestrup - 2001 - Mind 110 (440):1027-1038.
There is no adequate definition of ?Fine-tuned for life?Neil A. Manson - 2000 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 43 (3):341 – 351.
Fine-Tuning Arguments and the Problem of the Comparison Range.Robin Collins - 2005 - Philosophia Christi 7 (2):385 - 404.
The realization of infinitely many universes in cosmology.Rodney D. Holder - 2001 - Religious Studies 37 (3):343-350.