Anthropic Cosmological Principle Research Articles

The Anthropic Cosmological Principle: a Thematic case of Teleology and Causality in Contemporary Science

The successive versions of the anthropic cosmological principle reintroduced teleology in cosmology, articulating it with two forms of mechanical causality – probabilism and determinism. According to the thematic analysis of science proposed by Gerald Holton, we can say that teleology is the opposing thema (the antithema) of mechanical causality. A return of teleology easily creates suspicions because mechanical causality dominates contemporary science, and teleology is widely considered an obsolete kind of scientific reasoning. Furthermore, in the anthropic cosmological principle, teleology has a deep anthropocentric feature. From the thematic point of view, the teleology of the anthropic cosmological principle is in counter-cycle. However, the cyclical functioning of themata suggests that perhaps teleology is not forever condemned to the past or to a marginal presence in scientific thought.

Радикализация проблемы эпистемологического релятивизма (аргумент «за»)

The author of the article shows the difficulties in defining the problem of relativism, which expresses itself through the willingness declared by its supporters to abandon the question of truth. Since such readiness is un-precedented in the history of philosophy, the recognition of its solidness implies profound changes in the founda-tions of Western philosophy. An example of such changes can be the change in the ratio of absolute and relative, implied by the very literal meaning of the concept of «relativism», when the latter remains by itself. On the one hand, the doubt about the possibility of such a change strengthens the position of the opponents of relativism, who insist that there can be no relative without connection with the absolute. But on the other hand, in modern philos-ophy, a change in the status of the absolute is already being discussed, as a result of which it can no longer per-form its former functions in cognition. Thus, what appears to be an «in-demand» idea in the speculative realism of K. Meyasu and the constructive realism of E. Agazzi is the idea about a potentially infinite reality as non-actualized transfinite, which is the result of a rethinking by modern philosophy of previous ideas about the abso-lute. The author of the article shows that such a change in the status of the absolute is precisely due to the changes in the possibilities of cognition noted by relativism, when some of them are lost (the possibility of speaking about truth in cognition), and others arise (the possibility of statements assumed by relativism that exclude each other according to the law of non-contradiction). The author shows that the possibility of radicalization of the problem of epistemological relativism associated with potential infinity is assumed even by those approaches (relationism), on the basis of which, on the contrary, philosophers seek to smooth out the problem or exclude it altogether, but which turn out to be even more vulnerable. In conclusion, the author points out the prospects of modern episte-mology associated with the anthropic cosmological principle.

The question of critical re-evaluation of theological interpretation of the anthropic cosmological principle: paradoxes of the “finalist anthropic principle” of F. J. Tipler and J. Barrow

The question of critical re-evaluation of theological interpretation of the anthropic cosmological principle: paradoxes of the “finalist anthropic principle” of F. J. Tipler and J. Barrow

The question of critical re-evaluation of theological interpretation of the anthropic cosmological principle: paradoxes of the “finalist anthropic principle” of F. J. Tipler and J. Barrow

The question of critical re-evaluation of theological interpretation of the anthropic cosmological principle: paradoxes of the “finalist anthropic principle” of F. J. Tipler and J. Barrow

Philosophical understanding of an anthropic cosmological principle — “No Man’s Land between science and theology?” (on the materials of modern Russian discussions)

Philosophical understanding of an anthropic cosmological principle — “No Man’s Land between science and theology?” (on the materials of modern Russian discussions)

From ought to is physics and the naturalistic fallacy.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there were many attempts to justify political and social systems on the basis of physics and astronomy. By the early twentieth century such moves increasingly also integrated the life and social sciences. The physical sciences gradually became less appealing as a sole source for sociopolitical thought. The details of this transition help explain the contemporary reluctance to capitalize on an ostensibly rich opportunity for naturalistic social reasoning: the anthropic principle in cosmology, which deals with the apparent "fine-tuning" of the universe for life.

ASPECTOS SEMIÓTICOS PEIRCIANOS DA VERSÃO DA FÍSICA QUÂNTICA COM PREDOMINÂNCIA DA ESCOLA DE COPENHAGUE

O tema do trabalho presente é a inter-relação de duas noções do real: a filosófica de Charles Sanders Peirce e uma das diversas conceituações da realidade possíveis no interior da Física ou Mecânica Quântica (a da Escola de Copenhague). Ao proceder assim, o propósito geral do nosso estudo é o de elaborar um modelo de real multifacetado. Também interpretamos a dualidade onda-partícula em termos de signos peircianos. Igualmente aspectos da problemática do símbolo são examinados em relação ao modelo proposto. Por fim, o possível papel do Princípio Antrópico na cosmologia é colocado parcialmente em questão.

Editorial note to: Brandon Carter, Large number coincidences and the anthropic principle in cosmology

This is an editorial note to accompany reprinting as a Golden Oldie in the Journal of General Relativity and Gravitation of the famous paper by Brandon Carter on the anthropic principle in cosmology \cite{Car74}. This paper was presented at IAU Symposium No. 63, entitled Confrontation of cosmological theories with observational data, in 1973.

Republication of: Large number coincidences and the anthropic principle in cosmology

This is a reprinting of the paper by Brandon Carter, first published in a little-known volume of conference proceedings in 1974, that moved the anthropic principle from the realm of philosophical speculations to the subject of theoretical physics. The paper has been selected by the Editors of General Relativity and Gravitation for re-publication in the Golden Oldies series of the journal. This republication is accompanied by an editorial note written by George Ellis.

Princípio antrópico cosmológico

Apresento um breve sumário das origens, aplicações e críticas do princípio antrópico. Começo com os primeiros argumentos de Robert Dicke em favor do pensamento antrópico, continuo pelas formulações de Brandon Carter e as extrapolações de John Barrow e Frank Tipler. No final analiso algumas das consequências mais importantes do princípio antrópico em cosmologia e mecânica quântica. Há ainda uma seção dedicada às possíveis refutações do princípio antrópico.

Philosophical Roots of the Anthropic Principle

The relevance of this topic to the present meeting is partly due to the fact that almost two decades have elapsed since an astrophysicist, Brandon Carter, had first introduced the Anthropic Cosmological Principle. This has taken place here, in Cracow, at the special Symposium of the IAU devoted to the anniversary of Nicolas Copernicus (Carter 1974). In recent years the Anthropic Principle (AP) has became a matter hotly disputed in the physical, philosophical and theological literature. The constantly increasing interest of the humanities community in the AP may testify to the conjecture that this principle is no accident in the history of ideas. Besides immediate scientific prehistory it may have a substantive philosophical background.

The ultimate fate of life in an accelerating universe

The ultimate fate of life in a universe with accelerated expansion is considered. Previous work [J.D. Barrow, F. Tipler, The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1986; L.M. Krauss, G.D. Starkman, Astrophys. J. 531 (2000) 22] showed that life cannot go on indefinitely in a universe dominated by a cosmological constant. In this Letter we consider instead other models of acceleration (including quintessence and Cardassian expansion). We find that it is possible in these cosmologies for life to persist indefinitely. As an example we study potentials of the form V∝φn and find the requirement n<−2.

The Anthropic Cosmological Principle and the Omega Point

Cet article presente les rapports science-religion sous l'angle du Principe Cosmologique Anthropique, lequel, dans une pespective proche de la theorie du point Omega de Teilhard de Chardin, tente de donner une reponse aux questions majeures de l'humanite : le destin de la vie et de l'univers, l'eternite, le debut et la fin de l'univers...

Universality of space civilizations and indispensible universality of the anthropic principle in cosmology

Abstract The unity of natural science after Bohr and the uniform interconnected periodical systems in physics, chemistry, biology and psychology are discussed as the basis for the indispensible universality of the anthropic principle in cosmology.

On the Tenth Anniversary of Barrow and Tipler’s Anthropic Cosmological Principle

A l'occasion du dixieme anniversaire de l'ouvrage J. Barrow et F. Tipler consacre aux principes anthropiques, l'A. montre que l'entropie est un theme philosophique qui releve de notre experience commune de la nature, et peut donc etre eclaire par la conception thomiste de l'univers. Rapprochant donc la physique moderne de la philosophie de la nature, l'A. montre que l'argumentation de Saint Thomas d'Aquin, fondee sur la distinction entre cause finale et cause efficiente, et sur les notions de finalite et necessite materielle, contribue a la problematique du dessein soulevee par toutes les versions du principe anthropique (fort et faible) interrogeant la possibilite d'une vie intelligente dans l'univers et la destination humaine du monde

The physics of immortality: modern cosmology, God and the resurrection of the dead

This work is written for both layman and scientist. Is there a higher power in the universe? What happens to us when we die? Is there a heaven? For modern scientists the answer has been that there is no proof, no indication that the universe is anything other than a cold, unknowing place, that human beings are accidents of evolution and that when we die, our consciousness disappears into oblivion. This work rebuts this approach and presents a purely scientific argument for the existence of God and the physical resurrection of the dead. Frank Tipler is the author (with John Barrow) of The Anthropic Cosmological Principle.

The Anthropic Principle in Cosmology and Theology

AbstractThe “anthropic principle” has grown from scientific and philosophical reflection on the unlikely combination of circumstances needed, from the moment of the Big Bang through evolutionary history, to produce human life as we know it. This article describes the anthropic principle, in its “strong” and “weak” forms. It concludes with some thoughts on the possible theological implications of the anthropic discussion. From a theological perspective, the anthropic principle can be seen as part of the ongoing human effort to employ myth in the construction of a cosmology. It suggests both a sense of the design of the universe as well a the possible need for a Designer with some purpose and overall plan.

Errol E. Harris Cosmos and Anthropos: A Philosophical Interpretation of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press (1991), ix + 194 pp. $35.00 (cloth).

Errol E. Harris <b><i>Cosmos and Anthropos: A Philosophical Interpretation of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle.</i></b> Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press (1991), ix + 194 pp. $35.00 (cloth).

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Yoking Science and Religion: The Life and Thought of Ralph Wendell Burhoe. By David R. Breed. Cosmos and Anthropos: A Philosophical Interpretation of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle. By Errol E. Harris. Cosmos and Theos: Ethical and Theological Implications of the Anthropic Cosmological Principle. By Errol E. Harris. Hegel's Circular Epistemology. By Tom Rockmore.

Indifference principle and anthropic principle in cosmology

The successes scored by the big bang model of cosmic evolution in the 1960’s led to an intensive application of quantum theory to the problem of how the expansion might have begun and what its likely first stages were. It seemed as though an incredibly precise setting of the initial conditions would have been needed in order that a long-lived galactic universe containing heavy elements might develop. One response was to suppose that the fine-tuning could somehow be explained by the presence of humans in the universe. This ran quite counter to the traditional supposition, according to which an initial chaos was sufficient. This essay outlines the history of the two principles, argues that the so-called weak anthropic principle is banal, distinguishes between two sorts of anthropic explanation, and assesses the prospects of the anthropic turn in cosmology.