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

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.
The fine-tuning argument.Neil A. Manson - 2009 - Philosophy Compass 4 (1):271-286.

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References found in this work

Fine-tuning and multiple universes.Roger White - 2000 - Noûs 34 (2):260–276.
Probability and Evidence.Paul Horwich - 1984 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 35 (2):161-166.
A new look at the cosmological argument.Robert C. Koons - 1997 - American Philosophical Quarterly 34 (2):193 - 211.
Probability and Evidence.Paul Horwich - 1983 - Philosophy of Science 50 (4):659-660.

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