Ever since Copernicus, scientists have continually adjusted their view
of human nature, moving it further and further from its ancient position
at the center of Creation. But in recent years, a startling new concept
has evolved that places it more firmly than ever in a special position.
Known as the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, this collection of ideas
holds that the existence of intelligent observers determines the
fundamental structure of the Universe. In its most radical version, the
Anthropic Principle asserts that "intelligent information-processing
must come into existence in the Universe, and once it comes into
existence, it will never die out."
This wide-ranging and detailed book explores the many ramifications of
the Anthropic Cosmological Principle, covering the whole spectrum of
human inquiry from Aristotle to Z bosons. Bringing a unique combination
of skills and knowledge to the subject, John D. Barrow and Frank J.
Tipler--two of the world's leading cosmologists--cover the definition
and nature of life, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and
the interpretation of the quantum theory in relation to the existence of
observers. The book will be of vital interest to philosophers,
theologians, mathematicians, scientists, and historians, as well as to
anyone concerned with the connection between the vastness of the
universe of stars and galaxies and the existence of life within it on a
small planet out in the suburbs of the Milky Way.
