Editing Multiverse (section)

== Anthropic principle ==
{{main|Anthropic principle}}
The concept of other universes has been proposed to explain how our [[Observable universe|own universe]] appears to be [[Fine-tuned universe|fine-tuned]] for [[Consciousness|conscious life]] as we experience it.

If there were a large (possibly infinite) number of universes, each with possibly different physical laws (or different [[dimensionless physical constant|fundamental physical constants]]), then some of these universes (even if very few) would have the combination of laws and fundamental parameters that are suitable for the development of [[matter]], astronomical structures, elemental diversity, stars, and planets that can exist long enough for life to emerge and evolve.

The [[weak anthropic principle]] could then be applied to conclude that we (as conscious beings) would only exist in one of those few universes that [[Selection bias|happened to be]] finely tuned, permitting the existence of life with developed consciousness. Thus, while the probability might be extremely small that any particular universe would have the requisite conditions for life ([[Carbon chauvinism|as we understand life]]), those conditions do not require [[intelligent design]] as an explanation for the conditions in the Universe that promote our existence in it.

An early form of this reasoning is evident in [[Arthur Schopenhauer]]'s 1844 work "Von der Nichtigkeit und dem Leiden des Lebens", where he argues that our world must be the worst of all possible worlds, because if it were significantly worse in any respect it could not continue to exist.<ref>Arthur Schopenhauer, "Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung" (in German), supplement to the 4th book "Von der Nichtigkeit und dem Leiden des Lebens" (in German). see also R. B. Haldane and J. Kemp's translation [[wikisource:The_World_as_Will_and_Representation/Supplements_to_the_Fourth_Book|"On the Vanity and Suffering of Life"]], pp. 395–396.</ref>