What is the anthropic principle
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I believe the anthropic principle is misguided and misses the point of those who talk about the fine-tuned universe.
The people above have explained the principle well. But those who speak of the “fine-tuned” universe (whether by another being, chance, or something else) are NOT surprised to find themselves in a universe where human life can flourish. Rather, they are surprised at the EXISTENCE of the uch a universe at all, regardless of whether they’re in it or not.
It is far more probable, they argue, that quantum fluctuations would lead to the temporary appearance of such a universe (these are known as Boltzmann brains) than that such a universe should actually exist.
So the anthropic principle is reasonable, but it doesn’t address the real objection of teleology people. It’s as if there’s a firing squad and every day they execute a guy. One day it’s my turn and all ten marksman fire and I’m still living. My surprise is NOT that I find MYSELF as the guy that survived it (the only person who could think that is the one who survived it); rather, I’m surprised that the marksmen all missed. That is, I’m surprised by the very existence of such an entity as a survivor of a firing squad or fine-tuned universe, apart from my own experience.
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