Synopses & Reviews
The questions that were purely in the realms of philosophy are now beginning to be answered by science. The second Venice Conference on Cosmology and Philosophy explores the anthropic principle which states that the Universe has the conditions we observe because we are here. Out of all possible universes we can only experience the restricted class that permits observers. This realization has profound implications for cosmology, philosophy and theology; all of which are explored in this book by thirteen contributors who gathered to discuss and share their theories within the context of science. The result is a unique collection of papers of great value to professional astronomers and philosophers interested in the role of observers in the Universe.
Review
"... the sort of book that is needed to expand the horizons of the university student." David Hughes, New Scientist
Synopsis
Long awaited proceedings of an important conference on the anthropic prininciple.
Table of Contents
Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Patterns of explanation in cosmology John D. Barrow; 2. Anthropic principle and ancient science Oddone Longo; 3. The anthropic principle: laws and environment G. F. R. Ellis; 4. The anthropic selection principle and the ultra-Darwinian synthesis Brandon Carter; 5. The growth of complexity in an expanding Universe Hubert Reeves; 6. The anthropic and perfect cosmological principles: similarities and differences Fred Hoyle; 7. From the anthropic principle to the subject principle Michel Bitbol; 8. The anthropic principle: a critical view Livio Gratton; 9. The anthropic principle and the non-uniqueness of the Universe Dennis W. Sciama; 10. The anthropic principle and the SETI perspective Jean Heidmann; 11. The entropic versus the anthropic principle - on the self-organization of life Freidrich Cramer; 12. Anthropic biology Mario Zatti; 13. Metaphysical outlooks in physics and the anthropic principle Nicola Dallaporta; 14. Galaxy creation - implication for the development of life Halton C. Arp; 15. Some theological reflections on the anthropic principle George Coyne, Sr.; 16. Anthropic arguments - are they really explanations? Bernulf Kanitscheider.