The fine-tuning argument is one of the more recent, scientific versions of the teleological argument. An illustration is the moon. If it was a little bigger, smaller, closer, or farther away, the earth would be uninhabitable.
A popular objection to the fine-tuning argument is the contention that if the universe the earth was inhospitable, there'd be no observers to comment on the size and position of the moon, so the argument presupposes rather than proves the claim.
That, however, is a strange objection. If there's no one to observe a gothic cathedral, does that mean the cathedral was never designed? Does that mean Notre Dame cathedral goes from being designed to not being designed if Paris is deserted?
I continue to be amazed at the way the universe as we understand it continues to get to be bigger and bigger. 100 years ago, Edwin Hubble first introduced the concept that there was a separate galaxy (Andromeda) outside of the Milky Way. Now, thanks to the Hubble telescope, we know that there are literally TRILLIONS of galaxies (each with all of their hundreds of billions of stars”. And of course, all of the finely-tuned constants. The heavens do indeed declare the glory of God. More so now than ever.
ReplyDeleteagnostic chris came to the opposite conclusion. The universe is so big and so old that it could not possibly have been grasped correctly by people wandering around in a desert three millenia ago.
DeleteBut David knew God, and recognized his handiwork in the heavens that he saw. How much more ought we be able to see it? "He has put eternity in our hearts". And apparently now, he has given us a view of the how we might spend that eternity (in a way that still passes all understanding).
Deleteagnostic chris feels no obligation to consider the cosmological opinions of ancient peoples any more than he feels obligated to consider their opinions on virology or biology or pretty much any other scientific topic.
DeleteAs an aside, do I recognize your name from A Better Country or possibly Crowhill?
Both places.
DeleteI thought your name was familiar. I was cparks (come to think of it, I actually still am...haha). Good to "see" you...
DeleteHow have you been? I recognize the name, but I don't recall what we may have talked about back then.
DeleteBetter, thanks. I told a bit of my story in the Sagan thread to Hawk, who asked. You?
ReplyDeleteI kind of remember you, and some of the discussions. I'm friends now with the former Nevski on Facbook. I want to say that the content of my belief has not changed a bit from those days till now, except that I know more and my faith has gotten deeper (I am Reformed). If you recall, my wife was in Iraq in 2003 and I talked about it quite a bit. She came down with leukemia in 2011, was cured of that via a stem cell transplant, and she died from other causes in 2015. Life goes on.
DeleteI reconnected with him on FB as well.
ReplyDeleteI do remember you talking about your wife and I am truly sorry for your loss.