Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis
Abstract
The answer to the fine-tuning problem of the universe has been traditionally sought in terms of either design or multiverse. In philosophy circles, this is sometimes expanded by adding the option of explanatory nihilism-the claim that there is no explanation for statements of that high level of generality: fine-tunings are brute facts. In this paper, we consider the fourth option which, at least in principle, is available to us: co-evolution of the universe and observers. Although conceptual roots of this approach could be found already in ancient stoicism, it is still the least investigated explanatory option for resolving the problem of empirical fine tunings. We offer two preliminary models along which the co-evolution hypothesis could be developed further. They are still on the level of speculative metaphysics, but there are opportunities along the way to generate predictions which are in principle testable, especially in the domain of large-scale numerical simulations.
Keywords:
Practical metaphysics / Philosophy of cosmology / Philosophy of biology / Numerical simulations / Fine tuning / Endosymbiosis / Closed timelike curves / Causation / Anthropic principlesSource:
Foundations of Science, 2018, 23, 3, 427-442Publisher:
- Springer, Dordrecht
Funding / projects:
- Visible and Invisible Matter in Nearby Galaxies: Theory and Observations (RS-176021)
- Theory and practice of science in society: multidisciplinary, educational and intergenerational perspectives (RS-179048)
DOI: 10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0
ISSN: 1233-1821
WoS: 000440692400001
Scopus: 2-s2.0-85021225565
Institution/Community
Filozofija / PhilosophyTY - JOUR AU - Ćirković, Milan M. AU - Dimitrijević, Jelena PY - 2018 UR - http://reff.f.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2676 AB - The answer to the fine-tuning problem of the universe has been traditionally sought in terms of either design or multiverse. In philosophy circles, this is sometimes expanded by adding the option of explanatory nihilism-the claim that there is no explanation for statements of that high level of generality: fine-tunings are brute facts. In this paper, we consider the fourth option which, at least in principle, is available to us: co-evolution of the universe and observers. Although conceptual roots of this approach could be found already in ancient stoicism, it is still the least investigated explanatory option for resolving the problem of empirical fine tunings. We offer two preliminary models along which the co-evolution hypothesis could be developed further. They are still on the level of speculative metaphysics, but there are opportunities along the way to generate predictions which are in principle testable, especially in the domain of large-scale numerical simulations. PB - Springer, Dordrecht T2 - Foundations of Science T1 - Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis EP - 442 IS - 3 SP - 427 VL - 23 DO - 10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0 ER -
@article{ author = "Ćirković, Milan M. and Dimitrijević, Jelena", year = "2018", abstract = "The answer to the fine-tuning problem of the universe has been traditionally sought in terms of either design or multiverse. In philosophy circles, this is sometimes expanded by adding the option of explanatory nihilism-the claim that there is no explanation for statements of that high level of generality: fine-tunings are brute facts. In this paper, we consider the fourth option which, at least in principle, is available to us: co-evolution of the universe and observers. Although conceptual roots of this approach could be found already in ancient stoicism, it is still the least investigated explanatory option for resolving the problem of empirical fine tunings. We offer two preliminary models along which the co-evolution hypothesis could be developed further. They are still on the level of speculative metaphysics, but there are opportunities along the way to generate predictions which are in principle testable, especially in the domain of large-scale numerical simulations.", publisher = "Springer, Dordrecht", journal = "Foundations of Science", title = "Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis", pages = "442-427", number = "3", volume = "23", doi = "10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0" }
Ćirković, M. M.,& Dimitrijević, J.. (2018). Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis. in Foundations of Science Springer, Dordrecht., 23(3), 427-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0
Ćirković MM, Dimitrijević J. Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis. in Foundations of Science. 2018;23(3):427-442. doi:10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0 .
Ćirković, Milan M., Dimitrijević, Jelena, "Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Co-evolution of the Universe and Observers as an Explanatory Hypothesis" in Foundations of Science, 23, no. 3 (2018):427-442, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10699-017-9532-0 . .