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Plurality of Worlds

Two centuries ago it was still feasible to believe that the cosmos was created by a personal God. From a Creationist perspective, the laws and constants of the universe, the difference between something and nothing, and why there is anything at all are matters of divine intention, rather than the inherent nature of the creation itself. Today, however, science favors naturalistic explanations of why the cosmos exists, with its particular laws, and why it exists rather than nothing. The emerging picture may include an infinity of possible or actual universes very different from this one, most of which might be too simple, too small, or too short-lived for life to develop. One thing is clear: only a universe of a certain size, complexity, and longevity could harbor intelligent observers who marvel at the improbability of their own existence. What is unique about this world is that we are able to live here; and what is unique about us is that we can conceive other worlds in which we couldn’t live. In imagination, naked consciousness may go where it wills. But in the real universe consciousness is clothed in brains and bodies, and can only occupy worlds that foster these.

RELATED TAGS: [creationism, no personal god, why is there anything at all?, possible/multiple universe(s), anthropic principle/reasoning, divine intentionality, improbability of (intelligent) life/consciousness/existence, naked consciousness, infinite/plurality of worlds]


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