EDIT: I would be nice and provide a link on the probablity of life forming but the only sites I can find are damn creationist sites with biased numbers or angry atheist sites that are soley devoted for debunking creationist claims. Ugh. I can't seem to find a nuetral site on anthropic principle
Lol I know. The anthropic principle is actually supposed to be part of an argument AGAINST invoking God, why some creationists think it's an argument FOR invoking God I don't really know. It's insidiously hard to find sources on many topics that have the *slightest relevance* to the evolution vs creationism "debate".
Actually mathematics would come in real handy here. We can use some form of anthropic principle to calculate the odds of life forming (keep in mind that the correct conditions alone do not make life) then calculate the expected size of the universe, estimate the possible earth like planets that may exist, then calculate how many of those planets actually harbor(we cannot measure this so simply deduct a generous percentage.) then compare both numbers. THEN you will know whether it is likely or not that life exists outside our realm of existence. Assumptions are meaningless. Now I'm sure there is someone here thats savy enough in mathematical skill to provide us with that sort of data.
Which is what I was trying to do with the conditions of life. Let's try do it. MistyLover, your conditions were rather vague... I'll try make a list as well.
1. Life as we know it requires water, carbon and nitrogen. This is a given, non?
2. For any sort of abiogenesis to occur, there must be significantly low oxygen levels.
3. Life can only exist within a certain temperature range. This would be determined by the distance from the star, the "Goldilocks" zone - not too hot, not too cold.
4. Some sort of protection layer would be required to keep temperature more constant and block out ultraviolet radiation.
5. The planet would require enough gravity as to sustain an atmosphere, but not too much as to compress life.
6. The planet's axis must not be too tilted, as to allow for extreme temperature variation.
There are six things.
On the anthropic principle, I'll put it out first. The anthropic principle goes as follows, "for us to be able to observe a particular universe, that universe must meet the conditions under which we can observe it". It basically states that for us to be able to observe a universe, it must be able to support intelligent life. When we apply this to our universe, the application of the anthropic principle can be used along with given conditions to show the probability of the existence of extra-terrestrial life.
I firmly believe that there must be life elsewhere in the universe, but the odds of extra-terrestrial life being anywhere near as advanced as humans are miniscule, never mind contact being established. Also, the idea of these alien life forms resembling terrestrial organisms in any way besides perhaps micro-organisms or "organic slime" is somewhat narrow-minded.
Why *must* there be extra-terrestrial life? There's a difference between *extremely likely* and *must*.
