Hubristic Puddles

One of the more annnoying justifications for the “theory” of Intelligent Design (which maintains that evolution is a fallacy, and that a divine, invisible hand is guiding our development) is that the universe appears to be “finely-tuned” just for us.

If the strong nuclear force were to have been as little as 2% stronger (relative to the other forces), all hydrogen would have been converted into helium. If it were 5% weaker, no helium at all would have formed and there would be nothing but hydrogen. If the weak nuclear force were a little stronger, supernovas could not occur, and heavy elements could not have formed. If it were slightly weaker, only helium might have formed. If the electromagnetic forces were stronger, all stars would be red dwarfs, and there would be no planets. If it were a little weaker, all stars would be very hot and short-lived. If the electron charge were ever so slightly different, there would be no chemistry as we know it. Carbon (12C) only just managed to form in the primal nucleosynthesis. And so on.” (McMullin 378) [via kuro5hin]

The odds of this happening by chance, goes the argument, are so ridiculously small that it’s actually more plausible that there’s some sort of benevolent intelligence arranging things just so, as part of an ineffable universe-spanning plan to enable our existence.

First of all, this isn’t actually a proof of anything; it’s an argument against a prevailing theory. But it doesn’t even rise to the level of argument, much less proof; it’s more of an “aw-shucks-dontcha-think” approach to debate that attempts to appeal to lower-brain common sense while subverting reasoned analysis.

Second of all, the notion that we should discard an incomplete and not-one-hundred-percent-proven theory in favor of a faith-based non-theory that is by definition unprovable under any circumstances is not just ludicrous; it’s insulting.

Third of all, Douglas Adams thinks it’s silly. Here’s what he has to say about the notion of a universe constructing itself to our specifications:

This is rather as if you imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, “This is an interesting world I find myself in–an interesting hole I find myself in–fits me rather neatly, doesn’t it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!” This is such a powerful idea that as the sun rises in the sky and the air heats up and as, gradually, the puddle gets smaller and smaller, it’s still frantically hanging on to the notion that everything’s going to be alright, because this world was meant to have him in it, was built to have him in it; so the moment he disappears catches him rather by surprise.

Well, yes, exactly. Asserting that this infinite universe, of which we compose a tiny, vanishing fraction, was designed and created just for us is the ultimate act of hubris. It’s been 400 hundred years since Gallileo proved that the earth is not the center of the universe; apparently, some people still aren’t convinced.