Sciama's argument on life in a random universe: Distinguishing apples from oranges

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2306.14934v1
• Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:46:51 GMT
• Title: Sciama's argument on life in a random universe: Distinguishing apples from oranges
• Authors: Zhi-Wei Wang and Samuel L. Braunstein
• Abstract summary: Dennis Sciama argued that the existence of life depended on many quantities, the fundamental constants, so in a random universe life should be highly unlikely. Without full knowledge of these constants, his argument implies a universe that would appear to be intelligently designed'
• Score: 4.656345386543646
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Dennis Sciama argued that the existence of life depended on many quantities, the fundamental constants, so in a random universe life should be highly unlikely. However, without full knowledge of these constants, his argument implies a universe that would appear to be `intelligently designed.'

Related papers

• The Baby Universe is Fine and the CFT Knows It: On Holography for Closed Universes [39.58317527488534]
  We show that big bang/big crunch closed universes can be realized in AdS/CFT.<n>With enough bulk entanglement, the bulk Hilbert space of a closed universe can be holographically encoded in the CFT.<n>We propose a model of the emergence of an arrow of time in the universe with a given initial or final state projection.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-07-14T18:00:00Z)
• Polynomial-Time Relational Probabilistic Inference in Open Universes [14.312814866832804]
  We introduce a method of first-order probabilistic inference that satisfies both the expressive power of the language used and the tractability of the computational problem posed by reasoning.<n> Specifically, we extend sum-of-squares logic of expectation to relational settings.<n>We are able to derive the tightest bounds provable by proofs of a given degree and size and establish completeness in our sum-of-squares refutations for fixed degrees.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-05-07T04:14:03Z)
• Time series and the meaning of quantum non-locality [55.2480439325792]
  The derivation of Bell's inequalities gives precise meaning to the idea of quantum non-locality. It also makes evident why using it for faster than light signaling is impossible. It is demonstrated that series of outcomes, even if they violate Bell's inequalities, can be always embedded in a set of factual and counter-factual data.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-10-21T14:49:47Z)
• Computational Life: How Well-formed, Self-replicating Programs Emerge from Simple Interaction [37.95302339577743]
  We show that when random, non self-replicating programs are placed in an environment lacking any explicit fitness landscape, self-replicators tend to arise. We also show how increasingly complex dynamics continue to emerge following the rise of self-replicators.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-06-27T11:34:35Z)
• Is Planckian discreteness observable in cosmology? [47.03992469282679]
  A Planck scale inflationary era produces the scale invariant spectrum of inhomogeneities with very small tensor-to-scalar ratio of perturbations. Here we evoke the possibility that some of the major puzzles in cosmology would have an explanation rooted in quantum gravity.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-05-21T06:53:37Z)
• Unambiguous discrimination of sequences of quantum states [14.37149160708975]
  We consider the problem of determining the state of an unknown quantum sequence without error. We calculate the optimum probability by solving the optimality conditions of a semidefinite program.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-02-09T12:18:15Z)
• Unpredictability is perfectly possible in a deterministic universe [0.0]
  We revisit the question of how unpredictability can arise in a deterministic universe, focusing on unitary quantum theory. We discuss why quantum unpredictability is irrelevant for the possibility of what some people call free-will', and why existing free-will' arguments are themselves irrelevant to argue for or against a physical theory.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-10-13T21:21:19Z)
• Many Worlds are irrelevant for the problem of the arrow of time [0.0]
  Gao has claimed that under the assumption that the initial state of the universe is a pure quantum state, only the many worlds interpretation can account for the observed arrow of time. We show that his argument is untenable and that if endorsed it potentially leads to undermine the search for a scientific explanation of certain phenomena.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-01-25T15:50:57Z)
• Life in a random universe: Sciama's argument reconsidered [5.15018725021934]
  We show that a random universe can masquerade as intelligently designed,' with the fundamental constants instead appearing to be fined to achieve the highest probability for life to occur. For our universe, this mechanism may only require there to be around a dozen currently unknown fundamental constants.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-09-10T23:15:31Z)
• The principle of majorization: application to random quantum circuits [68.8204255655161]
  Three classes of circuits were considered: (i) universal, (ii) classically simulatable, and (iii) neither universal nor classically simulatable. We verified that all the families of circuits satisfy on average the principle of majorization. Clear differences appear in the fluctuations of the Lorenz curves associated to states.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-02-19T16:07:09Z)
• Probability and consequences of living inside a computer simulation [77.65665055163332]
  It is shown that under reasonable assumptions a Drake-style equation can be obtained for the probability that our universe is the result of a deliberate simulation. We investigate the possibility of eavesdropping from the outside of such a simulation and introduce a general attack that can circumvent attempts at quantum cryptography inside the simulation.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-08-21T02:41:33Z)
• Quantum creation of a universe-antiuniverse pair [0.0]
  The most natural way in which the universes can be created is in pairs of universes whose time flow is reversely related. From a global point of view, the creation of universes in universe-antiuniverse pairs restores the matter-antimatter asymmetry observed in each individual universe.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-02-23T09:02:18Z)
• Exploring Unknown Universes in Probabilistic Relational Models [4.438240667468304]
  Large probabilistic models are often shaped by a pool of known individuals (a universe) and relations between them. The aim of this paper is to define a semantics for models with unknown universes decoupled from a specific constraint language to enable lifted and thereby, tractable inference.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-01-07T13:26:55Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.