Undergrad Is fine tuning maximized complexity?

[friend]

It is often argued that the constants of nature are so finely tuned for life, that the slightest change to them would disallow life. Is this the same as saying that they are what is required to maximize complexity in the world?

 

[mfb]

It is often argued that the constants of nature are so finely tuned for life, that the slightest change to them would disallow life.

Repeated often, but wrong.

In addition, different parameters or laws could lead to different kinds of intelligent entities.

Is this the same as saying that they are what is required to maximize complexity in the world?

Define complexity.

 

[Fra]

It is often argued that the constants of nature are so finely tuned for life, that the slightest change to them would disallow life. Is this the same as saying that they are what is required to maximize complexity in the world?

In my eyes "fine tuning" is a statement of the theoretical framework and it's way of handling the parameter space rather than a statement that nature somehow is a priori improbable - a more sane view is that this is just a result of the incomplete or maybe even poor choice of explanatory framework.

/Fredrik

 

[haushofer]

It is often argued that the constants of nature are so finely tuned for life, that the slightest change to them would disallow life. Is this the same as saying that they are what is required to maximize complexity in the world?

No. Finetuning is often a hint that the underlying theory is missing a key assumption. Take for instance the epicykel theory in geocentric theories of the solar system. Those are highly finetuned, but this doesn't say anything about the complexity of our solar system; it says something about the completity of the epicykel theory.

 

[haushofer]

Repeated often, but wrong.

Yes. That paper deserves definitely more attention. Especially from creationists :P

 

[friend]

Define complexity.

I think things are more complex when there are more ways of combining things. I suppose this allows more possible states than otherwise. So does this mean that complexity allows there to be more entropy than otherwise? More possible states mean more entropy, right?

 

[mfb]

A universe with more black holes (e. g. stronger gravity or weaker strong interaction) would have a much higher entropy.

 

[Demystifier]

It is often argued that the constants of nature are so finely tuned for life, that the slightest change to them would disallow life.

What they usually omit to say is that it would disallow life as we know it. Nobody ever presented evidence that it would disallow any kind of life.

 

[Demystifier]

I think things are more complex when there are more ways of combining things. I suppose this allows more possible states than otherwise. So does this mean that complexity allows there to be more entropy than otherwise? More possible states mean more entropy, right?

Entropy is related to (the lack of) order. Complexity is related to organization. Order and organization are not the same. Life is an organized disorder. See the Appendix in https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.08341 .