Has anyone tried Victor Stenger's MonkeyGod toy universe program?

[marcus]

Has anyone tried Victor Stenger's "MonkeyGod" toy universe program?

I haven't yet.
http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Cosmo/monkey.html

I heard about it on the Cosmic Horizons blog:
http://cosmic-horizons.blogspot.com/2011/09/peer-review-fallacy-of-fine-tuning.html
which was reviewing the Stenger book called "The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning"

==sample quote from review==

... not particularly satisfied by it all, although this book does demonstrate that some of the claims of fine tuning are not as fine-tuned as originally thought. In fact, the author has a little web interface called MonkeyGod which allows you to make your own universe and see if you will get stars and heavy elements (the ingredients of life).

In summary, this is something we should probably give some serious thought to, and this book is not a bad place to start.
==endquote==

 

[Drakkith]

What's the point to the calculator?

 

[marcus]

Drakkith, there is some explanation here (but not enough)
http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Cosmo/MonkeyGod.pdf

He refers to a book he wrote over 10 years ago. Apparently this calculator goes with the book.
I think the aim is to let you vary some a few basic physical constants and see whether you still get long-lived stars and a range of chemical elements to support complex chemistry.

Looks to me like there's a lot of room for improvement. I was hoping someone who had tried it would explain, but it looks like no one here has or wants to.

 

[Drakkith]

Ah ok.

 

[sardar]

I cannot provide a definitive answer about whether anyone has tried Victor Stenger's "MonkeyGod" toy universe program. However, I can provide some insights and thoughts on the program and its potential impact on the scientific community.

Firstly, it is important to note that the "MonkeyGod" toy universe program is not a scientific experiment or study. It is simply a web interface that allows users to create their own simulated universe and see if it can produce stars and heavy elements, which are necessary for life to exist. While this may be an interesting and educational tool, it does not provide any significant scientific evidence or insights.

Furthermore, the program seems to be based on the idea of the "fine-tuning" argument, which suggests that the universe is finely tuned for the existence of life. This is a highly debated and controversial topic in the scientific community, with many scientists arguing that the apparent fine-tuning can be explained through natural processes and does not necessarily require a designer or creator.

In terms of its potential impact, the "MonkeyGod" toy universe program may spark curiosity and discussion among non-scientists, but it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the scientific community. Scientific research and experiments undergo rigorous peer-review processes and are based on empirical evidence, not simulations or web interfaces.

Overall, while the "MonkeyGod" toy universe program may be an interesting and thought-provoking tool, it should not be considered a substitute for scientific research and evidence. As with any scientific claim, it is important to critically evaluate the evidence and arguments presented.