Mere Coincidence?

[Yoseph]

A common philosophical discussion I have with people is based on the question "why are we here?" and I tend to lean towards the argument of "by complete chance". The chances of life developing (especially to such a level as to have consciousness) are very slim and require a universe with the exact right laws and physics for it to happen. The question that arises from this is why are there all the extra quirks of the universe that had no direct part in the evolution of humans yet allow us to do all sorts of complex and things. I'm talking about things like electricity and material properties which allow us to create such advanced technology. Is it just a conincidence? Or can it be explained with the said theory?

[dimreepr]

"Is it just coincidence?" Yes probably.

I take it by "said theory" you mean The anthropic principle?

If the universal laws were different, and still allowed for life, we'd simply have different technologies.

[Yoseph]

Yes, that's the one, completely forgot the name. But why should I universe allow for technology at all? Or I guess the universe has to be significantly complex to allow for life so these extra quirks emerge from pure chance? The question for me stems two implications. One is that either there have been many universes before with different balances of physics or that a universe can only exist in the way this one does. What sets these rules? Dice? Who rolls the dice?

Edited October 6, 2012 by Yoseph

[EquisDeXD]

Yes, that's the one, completely forgot the name. But why should I universe allow for technology at all? Or I guess the universe has to be significantly complex to allow for life so these extra quirks emerge from pure chance? The question for me stems two implications. One is that either there have been many universes before with different balances of physics or that a universe can only exist in the way this one does. What sets these rules? Dice? Who rolls the dice?

 

I don't get it. You said yourself you think it's here by chance, but then your still confused as to how everything got here, which you said was by chance...if your asking why the universe has the specific properties it does, there's not any really scientific explanation for that, all we can really say is that they exist because they can exist, and if any other laws could exist they would and if they can't exist they wouldn't.

Edited October 6, 2012 by EquisDeXD

[too-open-minded]

Before we go any further, ask yourself this. Are you biased towards their being a reason for us being here? Do you feel more content if their is a reason?

[Ophiolite]

I don't mind whether I'm going to be served a frozen margarita, or a Cuba Libre. I'd just like to know which.

[EquisDeXD]

Before we go any further, ask yourself this. Are you biased towards their being a reason for us being here? Do you feel more content if their is a reason?

 

Nope, I just look for whatever has the most evidence. Not a lot of evidence for god or multiple worlds or reality being a dream, but there is some evidence for matter being able to come into existence out of nothingness not just in experiments, but by the definition of the universe.

[EquisDeXD]

Before we go any further, ask yourself this. Are you biased towards their being a reason for us being here? Do you feel more content if their is a reason?

 

Nope, I just look for whatever has the most evidence. Not a lot of evidence for god or multiple worlds or reality being a dream, but there is some evidence for matter being able to come into existence out of nothingness not just in experiments, but by the definition of the universe.

[too-open-minded]

I was asking the OP, it seems to me that people asking this question are kind of not content with the answer being "just by chance."