Learn about the fine-tuning argument

LW HUMANIST ASSOCIATION

The Humanist Association will meet on Sunday, Oct. 2, in Clubhouse 3, Room 1, at 10:30 a.m.

This week’s speaker will be club President Dave Silva, who is the author of “Searching for Utopia.” He is also the only Leisure World resident to have run for a statewide office in 2004.

Silva will give a powerpoint presentation on the “Finetuning Argument.” Certain fundamental physical constants of the universe are “fine-tuned,” allowing for the existence of life. Some thinkers believe this is evidence for God. Scientists, philosophers and religious scholars have debated this question and reached different conclusions.

There is life in the universe because people are here to observe it. The “Anthropic Principle,” or argument, is the name given to the idea that the universe is designed, or organized, to allow for the existence of life. However, it doesn’t say whether the universe had to be the way it is, or whether other universes exist with different physical parameters. In one such hypothetical universe, life might be impossible, while in another it could be abundant.

Scientific observations have determined that the universe began 13.72 billion years ago in an event commonly called The Big Bang. Many religious people argue that since the universe had a moment of creation, it must have had a creator and that creator was God. Most cosmologists believe the universe was formed by natural causes. Relativity, particle physics and quantum mechanics describe how the universe works, but they don’t say how, or why, the universe was created. In his book, “A Universe from Nothing,” physicist Lawrence Krauss argues that observations show empty space is inherently unstable. Not only can something arise from nothing, something will always arise from nothing. These observations may explain how the Big Bang arose.

Silva will present the arguments from both sides of this thoughtprovoking debate. All residents are welcome to join.