video Episode What is the Doomsday Argument? Watch Next Is the Anthropic Principle Significant? What’s Fine-Tuning in Physics? What’s Fine-Tuning in Cosmology? Will the Universe Ever End? Does Cosmic Fine-Tuning Demand Explanation? Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Cosmos? Details Share Have we underestimated the risks of global catastrophe and human extinction? There is an odd argument that claims to justify end-of-the-world worries with raw statistics. Related Topics CosmosOur Special UniverseFar Future of the Universe Featured In Season 16Philosophical Questions I Contributors John Leslie John Leslie focuses on existence, axiology/value, immortality, philosophy of cosmology J. Richard Gott III J. Richard Gott works on cosmology, general relativity, galactic clustering patterns,... Nick Bostrom Nick Bostrom works on existential risk, AI, anthropic principle (selection), simulation... Martin Rees Martin Rees, cosmologist, is the UK Astronomer Royal; he was President of the Royal...
J. Richard Gott III J. Richard Gott works on cosmology, general relativity, galactic clustering patterns,...
Nick Bostrom Nick Bostrom works on existential risk, AI, anthropic principle (selection), simulation...
Here’s the claim: conditions of the universe relate to the presence of observers. Does the Anthropic Principle convey deep insights? Or thwart science? For sure, it’s... video Is the Anthropic Principle Significant? Episode 04 Season 19 26:48 Watch
Why do the “constants of nature” — masses of subatomic particles and strengths of forces like gravity and electromagnetism — have the values they do? Does fine-tuning... video What’s Fine-Tuning in Physics? Episode 03 Season 19 26:48 Watch
Here’s the claim: cosmic conditions that allow complex structures — galaxies, stars, planets, people — depend on a few “constants of nature” lying within tight... video What’s Fine-Tuning in Cosmology? Episode 02 Season 19 26:48 Watch
In the far, far future, what happens to planets, stars, galaxies, black holes? What’s the ‘Big Rip’ and the ‘Big Crunch’? And if ‘multiple universes’ exist,... video Will the Universe Ever End? Episode 04 Season 13 26:46 Watch
The universe works for us because of deep physical laws. But if the values of these laws would much change, then all we see and know could not exist. video Does Cosmic Fine-Tuning Demand Explanation? Episode 08 Season 12 26:46 Watch
Our universe must be “just so” in order for life and mind-for us-to exist. “Just so” is called “fine-tuning,” and it cries out for... video Is Life and Mind Inevitable in the Cosmos? Episode 02 Season 09 26:46 Watch