The Fine-Tuning Argument for God’s Existence

-John Dunfee

The Fine-Tuning Argument is the argument for God existence, that argues that the universe is designed for intelligent life by an intelligent designer. Fine-Tuning is a list of parameters that allows life to exist and have been set at very specific numbers. If these Fine-Tuned numbers were changed by a very small amount, then life could not exist. Fine-Tuning doesn’t imply design, but rather the best explanation for these incomprehensible parameters for life is a designer.
 
Here’s the form of the argument:
Premise One: The fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life is due either to physical necessity, chance, or design.
Premise Two: It is not due to physical necessity or chance.
Premise Three: Therefore, it is due to design.
 
Fine-Tuning is established science and is virtually not challenged by main stream science. As Paul Davies (Physicist ASU) would say: “The entire universe is balanced on a knife-edge, and would be total chaos if any of the natural 'constants' were off even slightly.” Where the disagreements arise, is the metaphysics and ontology of why the universe is Fined-Tuned for life. Chance and physical necessity are two of the three main options for why the universe in Fine-Tuned for life. Chance is highly improbable, if not impossible. To demonstrate this, lets discuss the fine tuning of the universe for intelligent life.
 
The fundamental laws of nature are Fined-Tuned for life ranging from the strong force, all the way to Earth’s tilt relationship to the sun. The weak force, strong force, gravitational force, and electromagnetic force are all Fined-Tuned to allow atoms to form and many other phenomena to happen for intelligent life to exist. These are the four fundamental laws of nature, so keep that in mind. The type of galaxy the earth is in, is Fine-Tuned along with the area of the spiral galaxy we are in.
 
Here are some astounding fine-tuning parameters for the universe:
If the Cosmological Constant were altered by 1 to 10^90 then we would not be here.
The Cosmological Constant is the driving force of the expansion of the Universe, so if it were altered the universe would expand to fast, or collapse back in on itself, or not expand at all.
If gravity of the strong force strength for stars varied, then stars would burn up, implode, of lose mass:
If stronger by 1 in 10^34, stars burn out too fast for life.
If stronger by 1 in 10^36, stars implode.
If weaker by 1 in 10^36, stars lose mass to radiative pressure.
The ratio of electrons to protons must be Fine-Tuned.
If altered by 1 in 10^37, then galaxies, stars, and planets would not have formed.
As we know, without galaxies, stars, and planets, no life can exist.
The ratio of electromagnetic force to gravity must be Fine-Tuned as well.
If altered by 1 in 10^40, then the mass of stars would change altering the course of the universe to have no life in it. The change in mass of star would affect elements that are essential to intelligent life to exist.
The initial expansion rate of the universe of the early universe must be Fine-Tuned for intelligent life to exist.
If altered by 1 in 10^55, then the universe would either expand to rapidly or would collapse back in on itself. Some may try and explain this away with inflation, but Paul Steinhardt documents would have suggested that even inflation would need to be Fined-Tuned.
This sounds like the cosmological constant, but it is not. The cosmological constant also needs to be Fine-Tuned for the expansion rate to even happen. With both of these mind, the probability of our existence becomes even more unlikely.
 
These are just five examples of fine-tuning parameters that need to happen for intelligent life to even have a chance at existence. There are even more of these parameters set at 10^37 or higher for matter, chemistry, galaxies, stars, or planets to exist. After we have these, then it’s even possible for life to form naturally. All these parameters are set in the universe all at the same time to have a functioning universe. Galaxies and planets have to be Fine-Tuned for intelligent life to exist as well.
 
The three types of galaxies are elliptical, irregular, and spiral galaxies. Both elliptical and irregular galaxies cannot support life as we know. Elliptical galaxies lack heavy elements that are needed for life to exist. Irregular galaxies contain to many supernovas (Stars blowing up) for life to exist in them. Spiral galaxies are the only galaxies that can support life, but even then we have to exist in the right spot in the milky way to exist. Mainly due to black holes and radiation in spiral galaxies. Our solar system just happens to exist in the right spiral galaxy at the right time.
 
Earth is even Fined-Tuned for life in relation to its solar system. If Jupitar wasn’t in the right place, then Earth would be bombarded with meteors. The tilt of the Earth’s axis is just right to the position of the Sun. Earth’s moon is just the right size for gravitation force of our planet. Earth’s atmosphere is just right as well concerning the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen. There are many more constants that allow for the Earth to exist as well that are Fine-Tuned.
 
Chance is the most irrational view one could take to try and explain the fine tuning of the universe for intelligent life to exist. To infer chance would be like the scene from Dumb and Dumber, when Lloyd Christmas asks Mary whether he has a chance with her. Mary responds by saying that there’s a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of them getting together, Lloyd response’s: so your telling me there’s a chance!
 
Imagine a 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 over 30 times. Some of the constants are set way above 10^37. One analogy to show this improbability goes like: if you shot a bullet across the universe and hit a target dead center, then this just shows the improbability of 1^37. As we know, there was no chance between Lloyd and Mary. The fine tuning of the universe is not due to chance, so what about physical necessity?
 
Physical necessity says that it’s impossible for the constants to be different. As we know, this is not true. It’s more reasonable than chance, but doesn’t has much explanatory power. Leibniz’s contingency argument shows that the universe could have failed to exist and could have existed in a different fashion. Plus, the fine tuning is independent of the laws of nature. Also, the laws of nature are Fined-Tuned as well. The amount of atoms could have been different, altering the amount of stars, galaxies, and planets that would actually exist. Simulations show that the universe could have been different and is not restricted to this type of universe. The universe could only be physically necessarily by a designer anyway. Mainly due to the fact the design best account for the fine-tuning parameters of the universe. The type of universe could only exist by an intelligent designer based on all the Fined-Tuned constants of the universe. The universe is contingent because is began to exist and the elementary particles could have been different leaving physical necessity not a viable option for the fine tuning of the universe.
 
Therefore, the fine tuning of life is due to design. The designer would be described as immaterial, timeless, space less, and powerful based on the Kalam Cosmological argument. With the Fine-Tuning Argument, we have a personal and intelligent designer because it designed the universe for intelligent life to exist. Objections to this argument will be dwelt with in my future article, “Dealing with the Top Ten Objections to the Fine Tuning Argument.” As of now, it’s reasonable to infer an intelligent designer is behind the fine tuning of the universe.
 
Helpful Sources:
•https://crossexamined.org/universe-fine-tuned-life-evidence-god/
•https://arxiv.org/abs/1112.4647
•http://crossexamined.org/the-argument-from-cosmic-fine-tuning/
•https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/fine-tuning-argument
•http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designun.html
•http://kgov.com/fine-tuning-of-the-universe
•http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/quotes.html
•Great Books:
•God’s Crime Scene
•On Guard
•Reasonable Faith
•The Creator and the Cosmos
•Improbable Planet