Life, the Multiverse, and Fine-Tuning: Fact, Fiction, and Misconceptions

Phillip Helbig

Foundations of Physics, 53, 6, 93 (2023)


Few topics in cosmology are as hotly debated as the Multiverse  for some it is untestable and hence unscientific; for others it is unavoidable and a natural extension of previous science. A third position is that it is seen to follow from other theories, but those other theories might themselves be seen as too speculative. The idea of fine-tuning has a similar status. Some of this disagreement might be due to misunderstanding, in particular the degree to which probability distributions are necessary to interpret conclusions based on the Multiverse, especially with regard to the Anthropic Principle. I present undisputed facts, discuss some common misunderstandings, and investigate the role played by probability. The Multiverse is perhaps an important component necessary for interpreting cosmological and other physical parameters.


info and local links to full paper | free, full, official version | doi:10.1007/s10701-023-00732-8 | ADS: 2023FoPh...53...93H | Google Scholar
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