{"id":46037,"date":"2018-02-10T22:41:27","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T05:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=46037"},"modified":"2018-03-27T22:21:01","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T04:21:01","slug":"alternative-infinite-multiverse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/02\/alternative-infinite-multiverse.html","title":{"rendered":"An alternative to the infinite multiverse?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Splendid<\/a>
The universe is a rather interesting place, and sometimes quite beautiful.
(Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

From Keith Ward,\u00a0Why There Almost Certainly Is a God: Doubting Dawkins<\/em>\u00a0(Oxford: Lion, 2008), a couple of comments about the notion of an infinite multiverse as a way of accounting for apparent cosmic fine-tuning:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has to be admitted . . . that this is a very extravagant theory. \u00a0It completely contradicts the principle of Occam\u2019s Razor, which says that you should not multiply entities unnecessarily. \u00a0One of Dawkins\u2019 main motivations is to explain the complex in terms of simpler parts and general laws. \u00a0But that motivation disappears completely if we have an infinite number of universes, and every possible combination of laws. \u00a0Dawkins resists this conclusion by saying that \u2018if each of those universes is simple in its fundamental laws, we are still not postulating anything highly improbable\u2019. \u00a0That sounds like a desperate attempt to save a failed theory. \u00a0The hypothesis that every possible universe exists is the most extravagant hypothesis anyone could think of, and it breaks Occam\u2019s rule of simplicity with a resounding smash. \u00a0If the simple is good, then the fewer universes there are the better. \u00a0(56-57)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I agree with Dawkins that it would be preferable to have a simpler, less extravagant theory, if we could. \u00a0Luckily, such a theory exists. \u00a0It is God. \u00a0If you introduce God, you can say that all Platonic turtles do exist, but they all exist in the mind of God, who is not a turtle at all. \u00a0The God hypothesis agrees completely with the argument that, if there is going to be a final explanation of the universe, it has to be in terms of an eternal and necessary being. \u00a0But instead of having a huge set of complicated quantum laws and a very finely balanced set of fundamental physical forces, all of which are realized sooner or later by some unknown principle, it postulates just one being, a cosmic mind or consciousness. \u00a0(57)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And, while we\u2019re at it, here\u2019s an interesting scientific curiosity:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEarth\u2019s Inner Core Shouldn\u2019t Technically Exist\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s a nice example of human<\/em> curiosity:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cResearchers Just Scanned 14 Worlds from the Kepler Mission for \u2018Technosignatures\u2019, Evidence of Advanced Civilizations\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the meantime, this article should challenge residents of the United States of America:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy South Koreans now live longer than Americans:\u00a0And will soon live longer still.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s yet another<\/em> reason not to be entirely complacent:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cUS flu season now as bad as 2009 swine flu epidemic: Some doctors say this is the worst flu season they have seen in decades. Some people are saying that, too\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 From Keith Ward,\u00a0Why There Almost Certainly Is a God: Doubting Dawkins\u00a0(Oxford: Lion, 2008), a couple of comments about the notion of an infinite multiverse as a way of accounting for apparent cosmic fine-tuning: \u00a0 It has to be admitted . . . that this is a very extravagant theory. \u00a0It completely contradicts the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[545,180,1362,177],"class_list":["post-46037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fine-tuning","tag-keith-ward","tag-multiverse","tag-richard-dawkins"],"yoast_head":"\nAn alternative to the infinite multiverse?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    From Keith Ward,\u00a0Why There Almost Certainly Is a God: Doubting Dawkins\u00a0(Oxford: Lion, 2008), a couple of comments 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