Azhar, Feraz and Linnemann, Niels (2024) Rethinking the Anthropic Principle. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The anthropic principle (AP) states that "what we can expect to observe must be restricted by the conditions necessary for our presence as observers". But the phrase "our presence as observers" cannot be uniquely interpreted in the context of the theories within which AP is meant to be understood and applied: namely, for 'effective' theories. We thus describe and defend a reformulation of AP, which we dub the 'effective observation principle' (EOP). EOP describes what we can expect to observe in physical settings by considering our 'observational situation' (and not, specifically, 'observers')---understood solely in terms of effective theories.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Azhar, Feraz fazhar@nd.edu Linnemann, Niels niels.linnemann@unige.ch
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in Philosophy of Science (to be published Open Access)
Keywords:	Anthropic principle, anthropic reasoning, effective theories, cosmology
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User:	Dr. Feraz Azhar
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2024 11:45
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 11:45
Item ID:	23934
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date:	6 July 2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23934

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