Fine-tuning should make us more confident that other universes exist

Journal article

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.

Authors: Saad, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Journal: American Philosophical Quarterly
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 29-44
• Publication date: 2024-01-01
• Acceptance date: 2023-10-01
• DOI: 10.5406/21521123.61.1.03
• EISSN: 2152-1123
• ISSN: 0003-0481
• Language: English
• Keywords: fine-tuning; multiverse hypothesis; inverse gambler's fallacy; arguments for a multiverse; ideal rationality