FROLIO – Formalizable Relationship-Oriented Language-Insensitive Ontology

© Roger M Tagg 2009 revised 2010

Welcome to FROLIO – a new attempt to merge philosophy and the "semantic web" . This website is under continuing development.

Related mini-essay: Paul Davies' Goldilocks Options

Introduction

The book I'm referring to here is The Goldilocks Enigma, by Paul Davies, pub 2006 by Allen Lane (Penguin) ISBN 0-713-99883-0

The question he raises is, "What are we to think of the fact that the universe seems to be an incredibly lucky accident that has produced galaxies, stars, planets and life, while if the laws of physics had only been slightly different, such a universe would not have appeared - or at least, we would not be here to observe it and talk about it?"

The reference is to Goldilocks' porridge: not too hot, not too cold - just right!

Davies's seven options

  1. The absurd universe - it has all happened by an extreme stroke of luck
  2. The unique universe - it couldn't have turned out any other way - if only we knew what the underlying theory of everything is
  3. Multiverses - there are lots of failed universes, but we can never see them - they've disappeared beyond our "event horizon"
  4. Intelligent design - God designed it, either he designed the laws, or he made it just as it appears now, and He doesn't need further explanation
  5. The Life Principle - there's a teleological force that is drawing everything to support life, but not necessarily a god as we think of it
  6. The self-explaining universe - our observing and understanding it is all part of the system
  7. The fake universe - it's a virtual reality show

Personal and organizational agendas

Many people prefer to believe or support a story out of 'faith'. Some such people may wish to preserve their vested interests; this might include politicians, religious leaders or even scientists themselves. Ordinary people may just want to have a personal model that they can make do with, or that satisfies their emotional need for certainty.

Links

Index to more of these diatribes

FROLIO home page

Some of these links may be under construction – or re-construction.

This version updated on 9th March 2015

If you have constructive suggestions or comments, please contact the author rogertag@tpg.com.au .