Posted by Jurassosaurus [63.184.16.191 - sdn-ap-003caburbP0191.dialsprint.net] on 12 July 2002 at 01.37.00 ZuluTime:
In Reply to: progress if we are truly understanding each other posted by Andy on 12 July 2002 at 01.23.02 ZuluTime:
The problem with this theory lies in that it doesn't allow for the formation of different forms of life. That it states: "life as we know it" is kind of telling. Sure if the atomic number for hydrogen was off by a few digits, we might not have humans. Instead we might have some weird noodle creatures debating the exact same thing. Stating that if the atomic number for helium were off by a few digits, then we wouldn't have helium burning stars, etc. That and the initial fallacy of probabilities viewed after the fact.
The anthropic principle states that there are only a certain, small, amount of values for the universal constants (atomic masses), that are consistent with the formation of life as we know it. Off by a number and we would not have stars capable of burning hydrogen, etc. These small values are viewed as being so critical to life that their "perfect" formation must be the result of a planned intelligence.