Title

The Argument from Physical Constants: The Fine-Tuning for Discoverability

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

This chapter will explicate a new teleological argument for theism, one based on the intelligibility of the universe and the science-friendly character of the laws of nature. Specifically, it begins by presenting some of the preliminary evidence that the fundamental parameters of physics fall in a relatively small range that maximizes our ability to make scientific discoveries. This is called as the “fine-tuning for scientific discovery.” It then shows how this fine-tuning provides potentially powerful new evidence for theism. Unlike the much discussed anthropic fine-tuning (or fine-tuning for life), this kind of fine-tuning cannot be explained by the multiverse hypothesis since it does not encounter an observer-selection effect. Further, it avoids some other objections commonly raised against the anthropic fine-tuning argument, such as the so-called normalizability problem. Consequently, this new fine-tuning argument has the potential of providing an outstanding supplement to the standard anthropic fine-tuning argument for theism.

Comments

Collins, R. (2018). The argument from physical constants (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190842215.003.0006

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