SCIENCE AND SUPERNATURALISM. Issue 42 (9th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dore, Clement
• Is Part Of: Think. Volume 15:Issue 42(2016)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2015-12-09
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1017/S1477175615000160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-1756

Abstract

Abstract : In the first section of this paper, I discuss a quantum mechanical account, which is endorsed by the MIT physicist, Alan Guth, of the origin of what Guth believes to have been an absolutely first universe. I argue that, though his explanation is unsound, there is no reason to think that it needs to be replaced by a supernaturalist one. In the second section, I argue that though Professor Steven Weinberg's tentative explanation of the apparent fine-tuning of the cosmological constant is unacceptable, we need not accept a supernaturalist account of the coming about of intelligent life.