Posts tagged ‘multiverse scenarios’

June 26th, 2012

The Multiverse, Fine-Tuning, and Nomic Probabilities

by Max Andrews

Whenever probability is being considered there must be some type of relevant or total background information (usually depicted as k).  The immediate objection when applying a probability rule or calculus to the fine-tuning of the universe in a multiverse scenario would be to say that this is universe is not an appropriate random sampling.  In other words, if we know of [at least] only one universe with these values the random sample size is precisely 1; thus, no random sample can be used to assess the probability of certain values of physics in the argument.  In statistics a random sample drawn must have the same chance of being sampled as all the other samples.  Since we know of only one universe we do not know what the range of values for the constants and physics could be.  Additionally, since we don’t know how narrow or broad these ranges could be there’s no way of drawing out any probability based argument for fine-tuning.  However, we can know what other universes would be like if the values were different.  If our natural laws have counterfactuals that are in any way incoherent then this is an appropriate sampling.  Also, to make this objection and advocate that we just so happen to live in a life permitting universe in the multiverse then this objection cannot be made since the claim that we happen to life in a life-permitting one amongst countless others suggest we can know what the other samplings are.

June 25th, 2012


by Max Andrews



