"island" wrote in message
...
abracad wrote:

The so-called anthropic principle points out how finely
tuned the
universe is to support life. However, is there any
reason to believe
this is the only universe that exists or ever existed?
Or is it likely
or possible that there could be an infinite number of
other (less
anthropic) universes that co-exist woth this one or have
existed
throughout eternity?

Remove the parts about other universes co-existing
simultaneously and
the answers become yes, and yes, "there could be other
anthropic
universes that have existed"... (and will exsist).

But why remove the part about other universes co-existing
simultaneously? It is very possible that is the case, in
fact--assuming the principle of mediocrIty, the physical
parameters of these universes would be randomly distributed,
and the development of life (as we know it) in those
universes would be incredibly rare. If M [superstring] thy
is at all correct, multidimensional branes are ubiquitous in
a higher dimension, and AIUI each may also be considered an
independent universe with its own physical parameters. M thy
is not yet completely developed and certainly not tested in
any way, but regardless of this, there's no reason to
disqualify the possibility of co-existing multiple
universes. The Weak Anthropic Principle still holds though
(as I define it) because it's only a tautology in a sense,
saying that, in a universe where life exists, the universe
is life-friendly as far as it's physical properties
(parameters, rules) are concerned. There's no a priori
reason at all we should not live in one of those universes,
i.e., there is no need for the common assumption that the
average multiuniverse needs to be life-friendly (i.e.,
predominately) for us to have fallen in one.

It is probable that the constants which require
intelligent human life
were and will-be carried forth to a higher order in an
evolutionary
universe.

But what is a "higher" order--do you mean sequentially?
Dimensionally? Ethically, of greater complexity...etc. None
of these things (except maybe dimensionality) are
well-defined and just a human value judgement in _our_
universe. Just as the directionality of Darwinian Evolution,
as a matter of fact--there is no need to assume an
"intelligent-mover" or "-principle" directing evolution,
simply the unthinking universe itself.

Like Al says though, there ain't no tellin what that
reality
might be at the next level, so there's no guarantee that
intelligent
life will be the order of the day to fulfill the same need
in the next
universe.

It may however be significant that the evolution of the
universe defines
the same process which allows humans to evolve in an
entropic universe.

Call it, the "Ratchet Theory" entropy results in greater
order on a
universal scale, where high-energy photons convert
negative mass, (ghost
particles/virtual particles) into real massive particles
at the expense
of increased tension between the vacuum and ordinary
matter. This leads
to an evolutionary leap as the universe evolves into a
higher order of
entropic efficiency, where a leap results in another big
bang which
carries constants that derive the so called, "Anthropic
Principle"
perpetually forward through time.

The process of which is speak is proven he

The -1th law

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=is...al.net&rnum=33

Highly speculative, to say the least. :-)) ...tonyC