[asa] QM, Mind, and Multiverse

I was re-reading the Discover article "Science's Alternative to an
Intelligent Creator: The Multiverse". It's an article which has gained some
decent attention among Christians as of late for the obvious reason - the
'fine-tuning' aspects of the universe that seem to suggest either an
intelligent creator, or some kind of amazing, possibly infinite
universe-creating principle. (Perhaps both? There's an avenue that would be
fun to explore.)

I know that topic has gotten some discussion on this very list, but there's
one part in particular I wanted to highlight - and a part which I notice has
seemingly gone unmentioned in every place I've followed the discussion. From
the article:

"As for Linde, he is especially interested in the mystery of consciousness
and has speculated that consciousness may be a fundamental component of the
universe, much like space and time. He wonders whether the physical
universe, its laws, and conscious observers might form an integrated whole.
A complete description of reality, he says, could require all three of those
components, which he posits emerged simultaneously. "Without someone
observing the universe," he says, "the universe is actually dead.""

Now, Linde is a big proponent for the multiverse. He's certainly not God- or
religion- biased in any way I can tell (Wikipedia lists him as an atheist,
but Wikipedia is also Wikipedia, so take that with a grain of salt.) At the
same time, here is Linde conceding that consciousness 'may be a fundamental
component of the universe', such that if you have no consciousness, you have
no universe.

Dinesh D'Souza recently wrote an article arguing how science in general can
no longer be looked to as a compelling argument for atheism, because a
number of developments have turned against what was for so long the standard
atheist view of the world. Perhaps this is one more bit of evidence that
D'Souza is correct, or at least on to something?

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Received on Thu Nov 27 06:45:39 2008