Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekchips.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!tektronix!tekcrl!tekchips!wm From: wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler) Newsgroups: net.astro,net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Quantum Universe Message-ID: <115@tekchips.UUCP> Date: Sun, 18-Aug-85 13:35:07 EDT Article-I.D.: tekchips.115 Posted: Sun Aug 18 13:35:07 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 01:44:37 EDT References: <696@inuxe.UUCP> Reply-To: wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler) Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 27 Xref: watmath net.astro:933 net.sf-lovers:9664 Summary: universe != dice > I've just read an interesting article in the August 3, 1985 > Science News titled "The Quantum Universe : A Zero-Point > Fluctuation?". In the article a Mr (Dr?) Don N. Page of the > Institute of Advanced Study in Prinction N.J. is credited with > the following observation: > > "Page estimates that the chances of 'The Creator sticking > in a pin' and pulling out just this combination of qualities > that makes such a unique universe are way beyond > astronomical, 1 in (10,000,000,000)^124." > Lets say I have a die with (10,000,000,000)^124 faces. I throw this die, and let's say that the face numbered 5,903,256,541,008, 192,234,865,234,505,314,262,195,000,105,524,578,234 comes up. Well, the probability that that particular face came up is *so* astronomical, that it couldn't possibly have. Therefore, God must exist. The probability that this universe exists is 1. As long as there is a universe, it may as well be the one we are currently in, no? The number 1 in (10,000,000,000)^124 seems more likely to be a measure of the probability that there is another universe identical to the one we are in. wm