Gambling on the existence of other universes

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the scientific claims supporting the multiverse theory, highlighting questionable probability arguments involving infinity and questioning its credibility compared to philosophical counterarguments.

Contribution

It challenges the scientific basis of the multiverse hypothesis by analyzing the probability arguments used and contrasting them with philosophical considerations.

Findings

Questions the validity of probability arguments involving infinity in multiverse claims

Highlights the reliance on questionable assumptions in scientific multiverse arguments

Suggests philosophical considerations may be more credible than some scientific claims

Abstract

Speculations and theories about the existence of other worlds have a long history. In recent times, the arguments have shifted away from their typical philosophical and theological character to supposedly become more objective thanks to their scientific underpinnings. A prime example of this is the current parallel universes or multiverse theory, which has the support of a number of famous cosmologists. In this article, we contend that the claim for the existence of those parallel universes, as presented in Max Tegmark's book "Our Mathematical Universe", rests crucially on some questionable probability arguments involving infinity. As a result, a doubt is cast over the multiverse hypothesis: Is it more credible than the counterarguments based on philosophical and metaphysical considerations?