In Defense of The Anthropic Principle

We’re here and that is why the world the way we see it exists, is here too.

The anthropic principle, a hypothesis first proposed by Brandon Carter in 1973, in its most basic essence is that the conditions of the universe relate to the presence of the observers- that we dwell in a participatory universe. However, since the term was coined, it has been subject to controversy and skepticism among physicists. Its relevancy in determining cosmological constants or in any scientific parameters at all has been long challenged, with physicists claiming it to be an unsatisfactory and misguided approach that has more potential to thwart science than progress it.

Leaving the maîtres to scratch their heads on the practical and physics-concerning aspects of it, today, we look at the anthropic principle from the metaphysical angle. And how Durian Sukegawa incorporates it in his poetic and poignant novel, albeit the romanticized version. ‘Sweet Bean Paste’ is a Japanese novel translated into English by Alice Watts. Set in Tokyo, Japan it follows a man with a burdensome past and faded ambitions who sells dorayaki from a small stall until one day he meets Tokue, an elderly lady with a great love for cherry blossom trees, who alters his life and frame of mind. Although this endearing read was enlightening throughout, there is one excerpt from Tokue’s letter that I keep returning to.

“ …The next thing, I thought I heard a voice that sounded very much like the moon whispering to me. It said: I wanted you to see me. That’s why I shine like this.From then on I began to see everything differently. If I were not here, this full moon would not be here. Neither would the trees. Or the wind. If my view of the world disappears, then everything that I see disappears too. It’s as simple as that.And then I thought, what if this didn’t apply to just me, what if there were no other human beings in this world? What about all the different forms of life that have the ability to be aware of the presence of others — what would happen if none of them existed either?The answer is that the world in all its infinity would disappear.You might think I’m deluded, but this idea changed me. I began to understand that we were born in order to see and listen to the world. And that’s all this world wants of us. It doesn’t matter that I was never a teacher or a member of the workforce, my life had meaning.”

In light of Tokue’s sagacity, I see the cloaked philosophy of the anthropic principle. Our dear world goes on existing as many times and in as many colors, as there are people inhabiting it. In possessing this particular weltanschauung we say our role in this universe goes deeper than merely ‘being here’. Iain Mcgilchrist in his book ‘The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World’ puts into words wonderfully how our consciousness and power to pay attention links us to the macrocosm we find ourselves drawing breath in:

“The whole illuminates the parts as much as the parts can illuminate the whole… The world we experience — which is the only one we can know — is affected by the kind of attention we pay to it.…The choice we make of how we dispose our consciousness is the ultimate creative act: it renders the world what it is. It is, therefore, a moral act: it has consequences.”

art by the Brother Hilts

William Egginton intimates in his book ‘The Rigor of Angels’ how all of our unique experiences form the world around us such that the world becomes a condensation of the collective human experience:

“Is the saturated red of a Vermeer part of that ultimate reality? The soft fuzz of a peach’s skin? The exalted crescendo of a Beethoven symphony? If we can grasp that such powerful experiences require the active engagement of observers and listeners is it not possible, likely even, that the other phenomena we encounter have a similar origin? When we do the opposite, we forget the role we have in creating our own reality.… We ultimately realize what we are striving for lies inside us; we find ourselves in the world and the world in ourselves.”

meaning of life - Duane Michals

To let the beautiful words of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard reinforce Tokue’s words and most resolutely fortify the anthropic principle :

“We are here to witness the creation and abet it. We are here to notice each thing so each thing gets noticed. Together we notice not only each mountain shadow and each stone on the beach but, especially, we notice the beautiful faces and complex natures of each other. We are here to bring to consciousness the beauty and power that are around us and to praise the people who are here with us. We witness our generation and our times. We watch the weather. Otherwise, creation would be playing to an empty house.”

---