God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
Mar 17, 2013If the precise value of many physical constants had been different, the universe would not have supported life, human life, consciousness, philosophy and us.
On Our Cosmic Insignificance
05 October 2017
Many people learn about the inconceivably large universe and start to doubt the significance of human life. Some philosophers have argued that this sentiment is actually just confused. An amazing Aeon article by Nick Hughes charts an alternative course for what motivates this thought. After assessing competing views, he ends up coming up with an explanation that seems to neatly account for our intuitions. And then, towards the end of the article, Hughes proposes how we could overcome this strain of nihilistic thinking.
Here's the full article: https://aeon.co/essays/just-a-recent-blip-in-the-cosmos-are-humans-insignificant
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Related Shows
God and the Fine-Tuned Universe
Mar 17, 2013If the precise value of many physical constants had been different, the universe would not have supported life, human life, consciousness, philosophy and us.
Nihilism and Meaning
Jan 24, 2010The ancients believed in an enchanted universe – a universe suffused with meaning and purpose. But with the dawn of modernity, philosophy and science conspired together to disenchant the universe, to reveal it as entirely devoid of meaning and purpose.
Meaning of Life
May 18, 2004Does life have a meaning? If we were created by a powerful God, would that give our lives meaning?
Finding Meaning in a Material World
Aug 04, 2013All there is in the world is physical stuff. That is the fundamental assumption of the materialist standpoint, and the picture given to us by science.
The Ancient Cosmos - When the Earth Stood Still
Dec 23, 2018Even in ancient Greek society, philosopher-scientists engaged in heated debate about the origin, composition, and structure of our universe. Tracking our understanding of cosmology from then until now shows monumental shifts in thinking.
The Mystery of the Multiverse
Jul 28, 2019At the foundation of modern theoretical physics lie the equations that define our universe, telling us of its beginnings, evolution, and future. Make even minor adjustments to the fundamental laws of the universe, and life as we know it would not exist.
Blog Archive
2019
June
May
April
March
February
January
2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2016
December
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2014
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2013
December
October
September
June
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
April
March
February
January
2011
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
2010
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
2009
December
November
September
August
July
May
April
March
February
January
2008
December
November
August
July
March
January
2007
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October
September
August
July
June
May
April
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February
January
2006
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June
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2005