2021/04/07 by Geraint F. Lewis, Lewis, Geraint F., Luke A. Barnes +1
Arts and Humanities · Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO) #Evolution and Science Education #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2104.03381
openalex publication_date 2021/04/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Are some cosmologists trying to return human beings to the centre of the cosmos? In the view of some critics, the so-called "anthropic principle" is a desperate attempt to salvage a scrap of dignity for our species after a few centuries of demotion at the hands of science. It is all things archaic and backwards - teleology, theology, religion, anthropocentrism - trying to sneak back in scientific camouflage. We argue that this is a mistake. The anthropic principle is not mere human arrogance, nor is it religion in disguise. It is a necessary part of the science of the universe.