Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site eosp1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!eosp1!robison
From: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: StarDate: October 21 The Anthropic Principle
Message-ID: <1208@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Oct-84 13:02:03 EST
Article-I.D.: eosp1.1208
Posted: Mon Oct 29 13:02:03 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Oct-84 00:12:11 EST
References: <678@utastro.UUCP>
Reply-To: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton
Lines: 26
Summary: 

Deborah Byrd's script on the Anthropic Principle contained a
correct statement of it, I think, bit also several misleading
and incorrect corollaries.  The theory does not require one to
assume that the universe was created FOR people.  One might state
it in terms of probability thus:

	It may be that there have been many universes, but this
	is the only one that could nurture the development of
	beings within it that can observe it and think about it.
	Universes with different physical constants couldn't
	develop such creatures, so no one gets to observe universes
	that are noticeably different from this one.

I think this theory is much more noteworthy for its humorous
underpinnings, than for any degree of observation (!!) or speculation
to support it.  A very dear friend of mine put it this way:

	If the strength of the gravitational force were weaker,
	the earth would not have sustained life.
	If the gravitational force were stronger, the apple
	would have killed Newton.

	- Toby Robison (not Robinson!)
	allegra!eosp1!robison
	or: decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison
	or (emergency): princeton!eosp1!robison