Bayes, God, and the multiverse

Book section : Chapter

The chapter begins by summarizing how the structure of an argument from the fine-tuning of a single universe to the existence of God can be expressed in terms of Bayes’ theorem. There could however be scientific evidence in favour of the existence of a multiverse. Insofar as the theory of such a multiverse is simpler than that of a single universe, and that theory makes good predictions, it would make it more probable that there will be a fine-tuned universe, and so — it might seem — would diminish the force of an argument from fine-tuning to God. But it would not diminish it greatly, because God has reason to create such a multiverse, and the supposition that he has done so is a very simple explanation of the existence of such a multiverse, whereas the existence of an uncaused multiverse would be a very complex supposition.

Authors: Swinburne, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Host title: Probability in the Philosophy of Religion
• Pages: 103–124
• Chapter number: 6
• Publication date: 2012-04-01
• Edition: 1
• DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199604760.003.0006
• EISBN: 9780191741548
• ISBN: 9780199604760
• Language: English
• Keywords: fine-tuning; simplicity; multiverse; universe; Bayes; God; predication
• Subtype: Chapter