participatory anthropic principle

E121391

The participatory anthropic principle is a philosophical concept in cosmology proposing that observers are necessary to bring the universe into being or to give it meaningful existence.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
participatory anthropic principle canonical 2

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf anthropic principle
cosmological principle
philosophical concept
addresses conditions for the existence of a describable universe
relationship between mind and cosmos
associatedWith information-theoretic views of the universe
phrase "it from bit"
category interpretations of quantum mechanics
metaphysics
philosophy of science
contrastsWith view of a completely observer-independent universe
coreIdea observers are necessary for the universe to be meaningfully described
observers participate in bringing the universe into being
the universe and observers are interdependent
critiquedFor ambiguity about the status of observers
borderline idealism
lack of clear testable predictions
discussedIn philosophy of cosmology literature
writings of John Archibald Wheeler
emphasizes role of consciousness in cosmology
role of measurement in defining physical reality
field cosmology
philosophy of cosmology
philosophy of physics
hasAspect epistemological implications for what can be said to exist
ontological implications for the status of the universe without observers
influenced discussions of fine-tuning in cosmology
philosophical debates about the nature of reality
influencedBy Bohr’s ideas on complementarity
Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics
quantum measurement problem
notableProponent John Archibald Wheeler
proposedBy John Archibald Wheeler
relatedDebate realism versus anti-realism in physics
role of consciousness in quantum theory
relatedTo Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics
surface form: Copenhagen interpretation

anthropic principle
observer effect
observer-dependent reality
quantum mechanics
anthropic principle
surface form: strong anthropic principle

anthropic principle
surface form: weak anthropic principle
sometimesInterpretedAs a participatory universe in which acts of observation help define reality
suggesting that observers are necessary for the universe to exist in any meaningful sense
timePeriod 20th century

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Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

John Archibald Wheeler notableIdea participatory anthropic principle
anthropic principle hasFormulation participatory anthropic principle