Fine-Tuning Should Make Us More Confident that Other Universes Exist

Bradford Saad*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This paper defends the view that discovering that our universe is fine-tuned should make us more confident that other universes exist. My defense exploits a distinction between ideal and non-ideal evidential support. I use that distinction in concert with a simple model to disarm the most influential objection—the this-universe objection—to the view that fine-tuning supports the existence of other universes. However, the simple model fails to capture some important features of our epistemic situation with respect to fine-tuning. To capture these features, I introduce a more sophisticated model. I then use the more sophisticated model to show that, even once those complicating factors are taken into account, fine-tuning should boost our confidence in the existence of other universes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-44
Number of pages16
JournalAmerican Philosophical Quarterly
Volume61
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

Keywords

  • arguments for a multiverse
  • fine-tuning
  • ideal rationality
  • inverse gambler’s fallacy
  • multiverse hypothesis

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