Lesson 5-A Finely Tuned Universe
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
When one observes the universe and the order and intricacy which is present in it, the natural response is to conclude that there is a mind behind it all and we believe this mind is God.
The early philosopher Aristotle after observing the order of the cosmos argued that “there must be a First Uncaused Cause, which is God, a living intelligent, immaterial, eternal, and most good being who is the source of order in the cosmos.”
Scientists used to believe that whatever the very early universe might have been like, given sufficient time and some luck, intelligent life forms would eventually arise somewhere. However, more recent discoveries show that the truth is quite the opposite.
We’ve come to discover that the universe is fine-tuned for the existence of intelligent life with a complexity and delicacy that literally defies human comprehension.
There are two basic kinds of fin-tuning which exist in the universe:
1. Constants of Nature
1. Constants of Nature
There are forces in nature which are constant including forces such as gravity, electromagnetism, and the subatomic “weak” force.
The laws of nature do not determine the value of these constants, rather these constants dictate the way that the universe operates.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
2. Arbitrary Quantities
2. Arbitrary Quantities
This describes the fact that certain quantities are put in as initial conditions on which the laws of nature operate.
These are also not determined by the laws of nature but are necessary conditions to produce the universe we see today.
One example is the amount of thermodynamic disorder (or entropy) in the early universe.
Definition of “Fine-Tuning”
Definition of “Fine-Tuning”
Scientists have been surprised to discover that these constants and quantities must fall into an extraordinarily narrow range of values for the universe to support life.
Fine-tuning does not by definition mean that something is designed, but shows that the range of life-permitting values for the constants and quantities is extremely narrow. If the value of even one of these constants or quantities were to be even slightly altered the delicate balance required for the existence of life would be upset and the universe would be life-prohibiting instead.
Examples
Examples
The “weak” force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature which operates inside the nucleus of an atom, is so finely tuned that an alteration in its value by even one part out of 10 to the 100th power (1 followed by 100 zeros) would have prevented a life-permitting universe.
Scientists insist that the universe must have began with a low-entropy state but Roger Penrose of Oxford University has calculated that the odds of that low-entropy state’s existing by change alone is on the order of one chance out of 10 to the 10th power to the 123rd power, a number so inconceivable that to call it astronomical would be a wild understatement.
For some perspective the accuracy of even one part out of 10 to the 60th power is like firing a bullet toward the other side of the observable universe, twenty billion lightyears away and nailing a one inch target!
Possible Objection
Possible Objection
Some have suggested that if the constants and quantities had had different values then maybe different forms of life might have existed.
This underestimates the truly disastrous consequences of a change in the values of these constants and quantities.
If these were altered not only would life as we know it not exist but the very properties which make a universe life-permitting would not exist.
An Argument for Design
An Argument for Design
In light of the evidence that our universe is finely-tuned to support life, we must ask the question “What is the best explanation for this fine-tuning?
The fine-tuning of the universe must be explained by design, physical necessity or random chance. The argument we present will be that:
The fine-tuning of the universe is due to either physical necessity, chance, or design.
It is not due to physical necessity or chance.
Therefore, it is due to design.
Physical necessity- the constants and quantities must have the values they do.
Chance- the constants and quantities have the values they do simply by accident.
Design- The constants and quantities were designed to have the values they do.
Premise 1 simply lists the possible explanations for the fine-tuning of the universe.
The crucial premise is Premise 2 where the alternative explanations are eliminated.
Physical Necessity?
Physical Necessity?
This explanation seems quite implausible for it suggests that a life-prohibiting universe is a physical impossibility and there is not evidence to suggest that this is true.
Because the constants and quantities are not determined by the laws of nature it seems logical that these values could certainly be different from what they are.
Scientific theory actually supports the idea that life-prohibiting universes are plausible and in fact far more likely than those which permit life.
Chance?
Chance?
This idea is that the fine-tuning of the universe is just a happy accident which allowed for life to exist.
The fundamental problem here is that the chances that the universe that exists should happen to be life-permitting are so remote that this alternative becomes unreasonable.
Illustration- Red dot(life-permitting) and blue dot (life-prohibiting). Sea of blue and a few pinpoints of red.
Imagine a lottery in which billions and billions and billions of white ping-pong balls were mixed together with just one black ping-pong ball. One ball randomly selected. Black you live/white you die. If the black ball was drawn you would have every right to believe the system was rigged.
Now imagine that in order to live the black ball must be drawn 5 consecutive times. This drastically increases the likelihood that you will lose. If the black ball was drawn five times consecutively then everyone would rightly assume that the system was rigged in your favor.
Because of the immense improbability of a life-permitting universe, some have theorized that there exists a multi-verse with an endless array of universe so naturally some among these are life-permitting.
The very fact that scientists have suggested such an outlandish idea completely devoid of evidence simply shows how desperate they are to reject the idea of an intelligent creator.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
There is none that doeth good.
Neither chance or physical necessity can account for the fact that our universe is so finely-tuned as to support living organisms.
Design?
Design?
With these other two explanations shown to be implausible the most logical explanation is that our universe was designed for the express purpose of supporting life. Specifically humanity.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
It requires faith to believe that our universe was created by God, but we have shown today that it requires and even greater and much less logical faith to believe that our finely-tuned universe is the product of chance and accident.