Cosmological Fine-Tuning Arguments: What (if Anything) Should We Infer from the Fine-Tuning of Our Universe for Life?

by Jason Waller

If the physical constants, initial conditions, or laws of nature in our universe had been even slightly different, then the evolution of life would have been impossible. This observation has led many philosophers and scientists to ask the natural next why is our universe so "fine-tuned" for life? The debates around this question are wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary, complicated, technical, and (at times) heated. This study is a comprehensive investigation of these debates and the many metaphysical and epistemological questions raised by cosmological fine-tuning. Waller’s study reaches two significant and controversial conclusions. First, he concludes that the criticisms directed at the "multiverse hypothesis" by theists and at the "theistic hypothesis" by naturalists are largely unsuccessful. Neither of these options can plausibly be excluded. Choosing between them seems to turn on primitive (and so hard to justify) metaphysical intuitions. Second, in order to break the philosophical deadlock, Waller moves the debate from the level of universes to the level of possible worlds. Arguing that possible worlds are also "fine-tuned" in an important and interesting sense, Waller concludes that the only plausible explanation for the fine-tuning of the actual world is to posit the existence of some kind of "God-like-thing."

Genres: Philosophy

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2019

Reviews

[Mikhail Abakumov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A systematic, clear and comprehensive presentation of the fine-tuning argument!

[Declan Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just an excellent book on fine-tuning - deep, clearly written and really systematic in addressing pretty much all of the relevant philosophical questions. It clarified a bunch of things for me (like the Inverse Gambler's Fallacy and a few things to do with Quantum Physics). If you want to read about philosophical arguments from the fine-tuning of the universe for life, and you're okay with complex philosophy, this book is incredibly worthwhile.