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The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning: Why the Universe Is Not Designed for Us

Authors:
Victor J. Stenger (author) and Nicole Sommer-Lecht (covers)
Language:
English
Original language:
English
Publisher:
Prometheus Books
Categories:
Physics and science
Publication year:
2011
ISBN:
978-1-61614-443-2
Pages:
345
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Table of Contents:
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  • Acknowledgments
  • Preface

1. Science and God

  • 1.1. NOMA
  • 1.2. Natural Theology
  • 1.3. Darwinism
  • 1.4. Intelligent Design

2. The Anthropic Principles

  • 2.1. Fine-Tuning
  • 2.2. History
  • 2.3. Hoyle's Prediction
  • 2.4. The Anthropic Principles
  • 2.5. Fine-Tuning Today

3. The Four Dimensions

  • 3.1. Models
  • 3.2. Observations
  • 3.3. Space, Time, and Reality
  • 3.4. Parameters
  • 3.5. Definitions
  • 3.6. Trivial and Arbitrary Parameters
  • 3.7. Space-Time and Four-Momentum
  • 3.8. Criteria for Fine-Tuning
  • 3.9. Geological and Biological Parameters

4. Point-of-View Invariance

  • 4.1. The Conservation Principles
  • 4.2. Lorentz Invariance
  • 4.3. Classical Mechanics
  • 4.4. General Relativity and Gravity
  • 4.5. Quantum Mechanics
  • 4.6. Gauge Theory
  • 4.7. The Standard Model
  • 4.8. Atoms and the Void

5. Cosmos

  • 5.1. Some Basic Cosmology
  • 5.2. A Semi-Newtonian Model
  • 5.3. Inflation, Past and Present
  • 5.4. Phase Space
  • 5.5. Entropy

6. The Eternal Universe

  • 6.1. Did the Universe Begin?
  • 6.2. The Missing Singularity
  • 6.3. Quantum Tunneling
  • 6.4. Imaginary Time
  • 6.5. A Scenario for a Natural Origin of the Universe
  • 6.6. The Biverse

7. Gravity is Fiction

  • 7.1. Gravity and Electromagnetism
  • 7.2. Not Universal
  • 7.3. Why Are Masses So Small?
  • 7.4. How to Get Mass
  • 7.5. Another Way to Get Mass

8. Chemistry

  • 8.1. The Hydrogen Atom
  • 8.2. The Quantum Theory of Atoms
  • 8.3. The Many-Electron Atom
  • 8.4. The Scaling of the Schrödinger Equation
  • 8.5. Range of Allowed Parameters

9. The Hoyle Resonance

  • 9.1. Manufacturing Heavier Elements in Stars
  • 9.2. The Hoyle Prediction

10. Physics Parameters

  • 10.1. Are the Relative Masses of Particles Fine-Tuned?
  • 10.2. Mass of Electron
  • 10.3. Masses of Neutrinos
  • 10.4. Strength of Weak Nuclear Force
  • 10.5. Strength of the Strong Interaction
  • 10.6. The Relative Strength of the Forces
  • 10.7. Proton Decay
  • 10.8. Baryogenesis

11. Cosmic Parameters

  • 11.1. Mass Density of the Universe
  • 11.2. Deuterium
  • 11.3. The Expansion Rate of the Universe
  • 11.4. Protons and Electrons in the Universe
  • 11.5. Big Bang Ripples
  • 11.6. Parameters of the Concordance Model
  • 11.7. The Cold Big Bang

12. The Cosmological Constant

  • 12.1. Vacuum Energy
  • 12.2. Holographic Cosmology
  • 12.3. Ghost Particles
  • 12.4. Is the Cosmological Constant Zero by Definition?
  • 12.5. Acceleration with Zero Cosmological Constant
  • 12.6. The Multiverse and the Principle of Mediocrity

13. Monkeygod

  • 13.1. Principles and Parameters
  • 13.2. Simulating Universes

14. Probability

  • 14.1. Probability Arguments
  • 14.2. Bayesian Arguments
  • 14.3. Another Bayesian Argument

15. Quantum and Consciousness

  • 15.1. The New Spirituality
  • 15.2. Making Your Own Reality
  • 15.3. Waves and Particles
  • 15.4. Human Inventions
  • 15.5. A Single Reality
  • 15.6. The Statistical Interpretation
  • 15.7. Deriving the Uncertainty Principle

16. Summary and Review

  • 16.1. The Parameters
  • 16.2. Probability Arguments
  • 16.3. Status of the Strong Anthropic Principle
  • 16.4. A Final Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Bibliography
  • Index
  • About the Author
  • Other Books by Victor J. Stenger

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