The philosophical problem that emerged from the realization that our very existence as sentient beings owes a great deal to chance has led some scientists to what they call the anthropic principle. This principle takes two forms: a “weak” one that scientists often accept as likely true but not particularly mind-blowing as revelations go; and a “strong” one that comes across to most scientists like a lot of hocus-pocus. The strong anthropic principle also goes by the name of “design”—as in, to explain how something as wildly improbable as intelligent life emerged from such a potentially
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