Fine Tuning the Fine Tuning Argument

Posted November 4, 2024 By John C Wright

Our own VicRuiz writes:

I have heard fine-tuning advocates argue that a physical universe would be impossible for which (for example) the gravitational constant was not identical or near-identical to the extant value we observe. Therefore our universe bespeaks creation by someone or something capable of selecting that value.

This causes me to consider that something vaguely analogical to the Euthypro dilemma could be in play.

Is God constrained by the value of if his intent is to create a universe with living, corporeal beings?

If yes, then God’s choice is limited by something beyond God’s control.

If no, then that phrasing of the fine-tuning argument does not seem particularly strong.

My comment:

Your thoughts run parallel with mine. When I was an atheist, the fine tuning argument did not strike me as particularly strong, nor now when I am faithful Catholic.

The Fine Tuning argument makes the informal fallacy of ambiguity, using the word “impossible” both to mean logically impossible and statistically impossible.

The Fine Tuning argument also makes the formal fallacy of irrelevance. The conclusion that if an event is unlikely, therefore it is deliberate, does not follow. If an event is unlikely, all that means is that it is unlikely.

If we compare it to other events that happened under similar circumstances then we can determine the unlikelihood, and this indeed can rouse our suspicion that the matter was deliberate, but it does not prove it so.

And these suspicions can only land in cases where we see parallel cases.

If I live in a world where monsters rarely eat cookies and children often do, and I enter the kitchen to find the cookie jar raided and junior with crumbs on his cheeks, practical wisdom tells me to disbelieve his tale that a monster ate the cookie and slapped his face.

If, on the other hand, I live on Sesame Street, and the only cookies I ever saw eaten were by a cookie monster, and no good little boy nor girl ever tells a fib, my wisdom would urge the opposite conclusion.

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Fine Tuning Argument

Posted October 31, 2024 By John C Wright

A reader with the royal yet Caledonian name of Kingmcdee writes:

Just today I witnessed an atheist in Youtube comments … Responding to someone talking about fine-tuning, he asserted that no God was necessary to explain the unlikely course of events on Earth, because there existed Natural Laws which guaranteed that evolution would produce the results that it did.

Apparently he was not aware that Natural Laws are immaterial, eternal, unchangeable, and everywhere applicable – something that no physical thing could ever be.

So, he either believed that the Universe was ordered by immaterial and universal principles (a strange form of atheism indeed), or that the order of the Universe simply needed no explanation (hardly very rational).

My comment:

Allow me respectfully to disagree in part, and agree in part.

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The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 32: At Dawn

Posted October 30, 2024 By John C Wright

From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.

In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.

But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?

The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 32: At Dawn

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Alexander Macris Strikes Again

Posted October 28, 2024 By John C Wright

Letter from my old boss, Mr. Macris, that I wanted to share:

*** *** ***

Friends, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just launched another crowdfunding campaign. It’s called the ACKS II Treasure Tome and it’s funding now at Kickstarter.

Now, you might be saying: “Alex, in just a week we’re having an important Presidential election — there’s war in Europe, war in tthe Middle East, war everywhere — UFO activity is at an all-time high — everyone’s attention is focused elsewhere! Good God, man, how could you launch an incredible RPG sourcebook with over 1,000 magic items at a time like this?”

But friends, there is no better time! 

I must capture value now, while the dollar still has worth, while the advanced infrastructure for digital fulfillment remains intact, while the global trade routes still allow me to source art from around the world!

It is entirely possible that in four days, or four weeks, or four months, that ravening hordes of hungry ex-journalists displaced by AI, or angry voters who mistake my white house for the White House, or malicious extraterrestrial invaders who have come to abduct my wife and dog, will descend upon my household.

Imagine the loss to the RPG industry if, as I am felled in a rising tide of violence that shakes the nation to its core, or an alien invasion, or a nuclear strike by China, I had left this sourcebook unreleased? Knowing that my imperishable fame as a game designer did not reach the pinnacle it would have if only I had dared to launch now?

You see, then, that I have no choice.
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A Short Note on Scidolatry

Posted October 27, 2024 By John C Wright

A wise and otherwise insightful political commentator was a lamenting the downfall of the Isle of Britain to the paynym savages, Moors, and Mohammadins, Communists and Jacobins currently overwhelming and dismantling that most august cradle of Western Liberty and rule of law, home of Milton and Shakespeare and Blackstone. He knew something was wrong, but could not put his finger on the source. He thought that it might be indeed the idolization and the glorification of science and reason in the modern era. He seemed not to realize that communism is a religion that speaks in the name of science and reason even while destroying science and reason. See Leninism or Lysenkoism for details.

Science and reason are useful tools when properly subordinated to Christian metaphysics. However making science into an idol, worshiping science, both destroys science and destroys worship.

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CV for Kamala Harris

Posted October 25, 2024 By John C Wright

Reprinted from Voice of Sanity (https://x.com/HouseofElon)

Voice of Sanity  reviews the resume of Kamala Harris as any employer would do — for what is a voter aside from the employer of a public servant? — and marked what stands out as a red flag. see below.

CV for Kamala Harris – Sources linked & within below.

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Musical Numbers Then and Now II

Posted October 24, 2024 By John C Wright

Here are two or three more musical numbers I’d like to share with my readers, which I post this time for the sheer joy and bemusement of the music, without any social or political commentary. Enjoy.

Girl Hunt from The Bandwagon(1953).

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The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 31: The Emergency Persona

Posted October 23, 2024 By John C Wright

From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.

In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.

But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?

The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 31: The Emergency Persona

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Musical Numbers Then and Now

Posted October 22, 2024 By John C Wright

Musical numbers from an earlier generation are entertaining and instructive.

Pass That Peacepipe (1947)

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Not Blue or Red — but Golden

Posted October 21, 2024 By John C Wright

For those of you following recent political burger joint events, Trump passed out free French fries at a local McDonald’s in Bucks County, PA, after being shown how to work the fry station.

The man has the common touch. Like kissing babies, adroit politicians imitate, a love for the little guy, an admiration for the workingman. Trump has these qualities authentically.

The Leftists in the media reacted as their stereotype dictated: accuse, accuse, accuse and belittle. “Nazi leader Trump claims the water is wet and fire burns, but offered no evidence to support this false lying and false claim.”

The Leftists called a publicity stunt a stunt and claim that a staged event was staged. As if the manager and staff at the store were blissfully unaware of the titanic crowd outside, the gaggle of press at the drive-thru, the secret service at all entrances, the camera crew and the president of the United States in the fry cook station.

As if politicians never before stage-managed a publicity stunt. The difference here, is that this stunt was master-class trolling, emphasizing the difference between the two candidates. Trump comes across as immensely likeable and genial, and he talks to everyone, worldleaders and fry cooks, the same way.

Kamala, meanwhile, was telling a youth who cried out “Jesus is King!” that he was at the wrong rally — and should go find a smaller rally down the street. (If this is a reference to Trump’s rallies, it is shockingly tin-eared. Trump draws unprecedented crowds, and it is nakedly absurd to pretend otherwise.)

But as a writer, I must also admire the artistry of how the franchise handled the firestorm of artificial controversy ginned up by the Pravda press.

Below is their internal memo.

“We are not red or blue — we are golden.” This is clever, conciliatory, and nonpartisan. Unlike other brands, McDonald’s is willing to “shut up and fry.”

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Sunday Superversive Livestream: Starquest

Posted October 20, 2024 By John C Wright

 

Livestream tonight (10/20/2024) on Ben Wheeler’s Superversive podcast. I will be discussing my latest Space Opera.

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Star Wars Better Than Star Wars

Posted October 16, 2024 By John C Wright

I am being interviewed by Jon Del Aroz, the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction, and the darkest of dark lords, Vox Day. We discuss wokeness, madness, and my new book SPACE PIRATES of ANDROMEDA.

Was podcast live at 7.00pm on Wednesday, 10/17 of 2024 AD.

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The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 30: The Enemy

Posted October 16, 2024 By John C Wright

From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.

In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.

But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?

The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 30: The Enemy

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Taller Than the Saturn V

Posted October 16, 2024 By John C Wright

Photo of the Day. This is not the cover of one of the science fiction magazines of my youth. This is here, now.

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Quote from Cortez

Posted October 15, 2024 By John C Wright

Bernal Diaz, who served under Cortes, in The Conquest of New Spain, wrote:

“The dismal drum of Huichilobos [Huitzilopochtli] sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in Cortes’ defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed.

“When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols, we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos.

“Then after they had danced, the papas laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts, which they offered to the idols before them… ” (The Conquest of New Spain, volume II, chapter 152).

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