Fine-Tuned Designer Universe

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A Fine-Tuned and Designer Universe

Ng Kam Weng

Also published athttp://www.krisispraxis.com/archives/2012/10/a-fine-tuned-and-designer-

universe/

The unbeliever may retort that he has not been shown any evidence when Paul declares in the

book of Romans1: 19-20 that nature displays clearly the existence of God and his divine

power. However, he would be surprised to be told that the evidence is available from recent

advances in science. That is to say, the investigations of the intricate mechanism of the

universe uncovered by modern science rule out the suggestion that the universe is a product

of chance and that a more plausible conclusion would be to view the universe as designed by

a supremely intelligent and vastly powerful designer whom men of faith call the Creator God.

It is arguable that the first theologian to use the knowledge of modern science to support the

case for the existence of God was William Paley who formulated the watch-maker

argument in his bookNatural Theology (1802). Paley wrote, suppose I had found a watchupon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place;

There must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers,

who formed [the watch] for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who

comprehended its construction, and designed its use.

The logic of the watchmaker argument may be outlined as follows:

1. A watch shows that it was assembled for an intelligent purpose (to keep time)

a. The spring provides energy to keep the parts moving

b. The gears ensure the motion is regular and transmitted to the watch-hand

c. The glass cover protects the moving hand and allows easy reading of time

2. The world shows far greater evidence of design than a watch

a. The world displays greater complexity that a watch

b. The world shows endless variety of means adapted to ends.

3. Therefore, if a watch points to a clever watchmaker, then the world demands an even

greater intelligent Designer.

We can make the argument more succinctly:

1. All design implies a designer

2. Great design implies a great designer

3. There is evidence of complex design in the universe

4. Therefore, there must be a great Designer of the universe.

Put differently,

1. The material universe resembles the intelligent products designed by human beings

2. Like effects have like causes

3. Therefore the design quality of the universe is the effect of an intelligent designer (creator)
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How persuasive or sound the argument is depends on the credibility of the first premise, that

is, that the universe does exhibit marks of design. In this respect, the breathtaking advances

and new discoveries of science since 1802 cumulatively provide compelling evidence of a

designed universe. Scientists are increasingly aware that life emerged on earth under the most

improbable (or miraculous) circumstances. Further reflection on recent scientific discoveries

seems to suggest that the discovered pattern and regularities of nature must be fine-tuned tomake life possible.

The world famous physicist-writer, Paul Davies observes that there is now broad agreement

among astro-physicists and cosmologists that the Universe is in several respects fine-tuned

for life. He adds that the universe is not only biophilic [friendly towards life] to make life

marginally possible, but the universe is optimized to ensure the flourishing of life.

Indeed, scientists are beginning to appreciate the great precision of optimization or fine-

tuning parameters that must be in place before life can emerge. These parameters must be

exact to great order of magnitude.

Martin Rees in his book,Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape The Universe,

highlights 6 numbers or dimensionless constants needed to be fine-tuned in order to have a

life-permitting universe.

N= ratio of the strengths ofgravity to that ofelectromagnetism; if the ratio were smaller,

there would have been only a short-lived miniature universe; no creatures would grow

larger than insects, much less would there be time for biological evolution.

Epsilon () = strength of the force binding nucleons into nuclei and controls the power of

the Sun. It has a value of 0.007. If the number deviates say either to 0,006 or 0.008 we

could not exist.

Omega () = relative importance of gravity and expansion energy in the Universe; if the

ratio were too high the universe would have collapsed long ago; if it were too low, no

stars would have formed. In other words, the present universe exists because the value of

Omega is just right.

Lambda () = cosmological constant; the biggest scientific news in 1998. It is a cosmic

antigravity that controls the expansion of the universe. Fortunately, it is surprisingly

very small to allow formation of stars and galaxies.

Q = ratio of the gravitational energy required to pull a large galaxy apart to the energy

equivalent of its mass; If Q were smaller, the universe would be inert and structureless; if

Q were larger it would be a violent place with no stars and dominated by vast black holes.

D = number of spatial dimensions in space-time. String theory for all its worth suggests

that the 10 or 11 original dimensions at the origins of the universe were compactified into3 (Time, the fourth dimension is different as it has a built-in arrow: we move only

towards the future). Rees observes that if D were two or four life could not exist.

Dr. Hugh Ross spells out more concretely why the precise balance of physical constants is

absolutely necessary for the emergence of life (Hugh Ross gave 25 such parameters in his

bookThe Creator and the Cosmos).

1. Strong nuclear force constant

if larger: no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for most life-essential elements would be

unstable; thus, no life chemistry

if smaller: no elements heavier than hydrogen would form: again, no life chemistry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Davieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_coupling_constanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_nucleushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_constanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetimehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetimehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_constanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_nucleushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_coupling_constanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Davies


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2. Weak nuclear force constant

if larger: too much hydrogen would convert to helium in big bang; hence, stars would convert

too much matter into heavy elements

if smaller: too little helium would be produced from big bang; hence, stars would convert too

little matter into heavy elements

3. Ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constantif larger: all stars would be at least 1.4 solar masses; hence, stellar burning would be too brief

and too uneven for life support

if smaller: all stars would be no bigger than 0.8 times solar masses, thus incapable of

producing heavy elements

4. Expansion rate of the universeif larger: no galaxies would form

if smaller: universe would collapse, even before stars formed

5. Mass density of the universe

if larger: too much deuterium from big bang would cause stars to burn too rapidly for life to

form

if smaller: insufficient helium from big bang would result in too few heavy elements6. Initial uniformity of radiation

if more uniform: stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed

if less uniform: universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space

7. Ratio of neutron mass to proton mass

if higher: neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of heavy elements

essential for life

if lower: proton decay would cause all stars to collapse into neutron stars or black holes

Indeed the ratio between the physical forces (physical constants) must be fine-tuned to

amazing order of accuracy given below.

Fine Tuning of the Physical Constants of the Universe

Parameter Max. Deviation

Ratio of Electrons: Protons 1:10

Ratio of Electromagnetic Force: Gravity 1:10

Expansion Rate of Universe 1:10

Mass Density of Universe 1:10

Cosmological Constant 1:10

These numbers represent the maximum deviation from the accepted values, that would eitherprevent the universe from existing now, not having matter, or be unsuitable for any form of

life. The order of accuracy would probably remain an abstract number for most lay readers.

Dr. Hugh Ross in his bookThe Creator and the Cosmos (p. 108) gives a graphic illustration

to help the reader grasp the well-nigh impossibility of the universe achieving the required

ration based on random occurrence or chance.

Cover the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of

about 239,000 milesNext, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents

the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of

dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out one dime. The odds that he will pick the red

dime are one in 1037

. And this is only one of the parameters that is so delicately balanced toallow life to form.
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The necessity of precise physical constants must be maintained not only in the realm of

physics but also in the realm of biology. The physical constants give a distinctive chemical

quality to the Carbon atom which is foundational for formation of all life-forms as we know.

Alister McGrath elaborates,

The entire [biological] evolutionary process depends upon the unusual chemistry of carbon,

which allows it to bond to itself, as well as other elements, creating highly complex

molecules that are stable over prevailing terrestrial temperatures, and are capable of

conveying genetic information (especially DNA)Although one might be argued that nature

creates its own fine-tuning, this can only be done if the primordial constituents of the

universe are such that an evolutionary process can be initiated. The unique chemistry of

carbon is the ultimate foundation of the capacity of nature to tune itself. (A Fine-Tuned

Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology, pp. 138-139).

Life emerged only as a result of an exact and unlikely combination of physical conditions

pertaining to the strength of gravity and electromagnetic forces, and the precise density of the

beginning state of the universe. The slightest departure from their actual values in an early

universe would make life impossible.

Going by the immense odds, life could not have emerged through a random process of nature

or by chance. But life has emerged from such improbabilities and this suggests some

intervention from an agency outside the processes of nature. As one scientist surmises, it

seems that some higher intelligence has cooked the physical constants under just the right

condition at the beginning of the universe to make life possible.

We can formulate an argument for the existence of God based on the fine-tuning

characteristics of the universe as follows:

1. The fine-tuning of the universe to support life is either due to chance or design2. It is not due to chance3. Therefore, the fine-tuning is due to design

To conclude, the precise values of the physical constants of nature and the serendipitous state

(initial conditions) of the beginning of the universe all point to a cosmic designer who has

fine-tuned the universe. The evidence available from contemporary science suggests thattheism provides a more plausible explanation for the emergence of life in the universe than

naturalism or atheism.

Useful Books.

Alister E. McGrath.A Fine-Tuned Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology.

Hugh Ross. The Creator and the Cosmos.

Documents

Fine-Tuned Designer Universe