A Harvard scientist claims to have proven the existence of a higher power using a complex scientific formula, sparking a philosophical debate on social media.
Dr Willie Soon, an Ivy League Astrophysicist, is well-qualified to claim he understands the universe and its forces better than most.
Despite centuries of conflict between science and religion over the origins of the universe, Dr Soon appears to have united the two fields with his theory about the universe and our existence on Earth.
Speaking on The Tucker Carlson Network, the Smithsonian doctor explained his belief in the “fine-tuning argument”. This concept emphasises the extraordinary precision of the universe’s physical conditions, which created the almost infinitely improbable conditions for life – too improbable to be mere chance.
At the core of this claim is a thought first expressed by Cambridge University physicist Paul Dirac in 1963. Dirac suggested that the mathematical elegance of nature’s laws indicated a superior designer, reports the Mirror US.
In his work nearly six decades ago, Dirac said: “It seems to be one of the fundamental features of nature that fundamental physical laws are described in terms of mathematical theory of great beauty and power, needing quite a high standard of mathematics for one to understand it.
“You may wonder: Why is nature constructed along these lines? One can only answer that our present knowledge seems to show that nature is so constructed. We simply have to accept it.
“One could perhaps describe the situation by saying that God is a mathematician of a very high order, and He used very advanced mathematics in constructing the universe.”
Dr Soon reinforces this perspective during the television programme, saying: “There are so many examples of the ever-present forces that allow us to illuminate our lives. God has given us this light, to follow the light and do the best that we can.”
His reasoning appears to be a more scientific interpretation of the design argument, the one featuring the timepiece comparison that nearly all of us learnt about at school.
The well-known comparison explains this by likening the universe to a timepiece. Discovering a timepiece, with its complex inner workings, suggests a craftsman created it. Likewise, the intricacy of the universe points to an intelligent creator.
However, not everyone shares Soon’s conviction. A frequent counter-argument to his fine-tuning theory takes two forms.
Firstly, our comprehension of the cosmos remains severely restricted. We function as carbon-based organisms, yet in alternative universes, other physical existence built on different elements might be possible.
The second counter-argument centres on chance. Improbable occurrences take place constantly, and regarding our universe’s existence, it’s certain that, regardless of how remote the odds were, it nevertheless occurred.