About this episode
Biologist Richard Dawkins, in his book, The Blind Watchmaker, wrote the following:
The theory of evolution by cumulative natural selection is the only theory we know of that is, in
principle, capable of explaining the existence of organized complexity. Even if the evidence did
not favour it, it would still be the best theory available.
In this episode, we discuss physicist Lee Smolin's attempt to extend natural selection from
biology and apply it to the cosmos as a whole in order to explain fine tuning in physics. We start
by discussing black holes and baby universes and end with what Smolin calls the meta-laws
dilemma.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening
1:35 - Alternative Theories
4:00 - Biological and Cosmological Natural Selection
7:51 - The Three Premises of Cosmological Natural Selection
16:05 - Not a Genuine Multiverse
18:34 - Problems With All Three Premises
24:12 - Smolin's False Prediction
25:53 - The Fine Tuned Meta-Law
28:54 - Summary of Problems with Cosmological Natural Selection
30:39 - The Meta-law Dilemma
Get essay versions of all episodes in Season 1: Intelligent Cause and Season 2: Analyzing & Rejecting Multiverse
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