Anthropic Principle

by ballistic 11 Replies latest jw friends

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    In physics and cosmology, the anthropic principle is the philosophical argument that observations of the physical Universe must be compatible with the conscious life that observes it. ~wikipedia

    There are a few threads on this board as well as some JW publications which ask; why is the earth just the perfect distance from the sun for life? Why do we have the right balance of gases and chemicals for the existance of life? Is it just coincidence?

    What they fail to see is that we are only ABLE to ask these questions at all BECAUSE we are in that situation which allows life to flourish. A million other alien species may have died out because their planet wasn't just right or it got hit by an asteroid. A million other alien species will never get to ask the questions at all, because they never had the right combination of factors to allow life to exist in the first place.

    Another way of putting it is, we ask why is the sun 'just so' and not a mile this way or a mile that, and the answer is; because if it was, you wouldn't be here in order to ask the question.

  • Mad Sweeney
  • leavingwt
    leavingwt

    A puddle of water in a pothole sees the hole as being just the perfect size to contain it.

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips

    The Anthropic Principle is a tautology. It explains nothing.

    BTS

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    I have to disagree with you Burn the Ships, it explains a hell of a lot. Now do me a favour and look it up, I had the decency to look your big word up.

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips

    Really? What does it explain? That the Universe is just so, because it is just so, and if it wasn't just so, we wouldn't be here to see it?

    Tell me, what does that explain? What is the utility?

    You cited a wikipedia page, I recommend you read all of it.

    BTS

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    You couldn't have possibly read all that in 2 minutes.

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips

    I didn't need to.

    BTS

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    Does anybody else want to have a sensible discussion?

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips

    I do, but as soon as I posted my opinion, you responded in what seems an angry fashion. I don't understand why?

    BTS

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