RE: [asa] Multiverse math

On Tue, 1 Sep 2009, Dehler, Bernie wrote:

>
> Gordon said:
> "How can you look at a single measurement and determine that the value you
> get must have been randomly selected? It might be that it was selected for
> some additional reason besides causing existence to be viable."
>
>  
>
> As I understand it, there is no compelling reason for the exact values for
> the constants, other than that they are in the viable range for life to
> exist.  If the multiverse hypothesis were true, then you'd expect these
> values to fall within a range, but other than that, be random (not special
> in any other way).  (Because any other random number wouldn't generate life
> so we'd never see it.)  The constants do appear to be randomly sitting
> within the range they need to be.  There is no ‘exact value’ that they need
> to be!
>
>  
>

My understanding of your argument is that a randomly selected value in the
viable range works to enable life. Therefore the value must be randomly
selected. The problem with this argument is that a value in this range
that is selected by a nonrandom method also works.

Gordon Brown (ASA member)

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Received on Tue Sep 1 20:31:31 2009