The Privileged Planet Look

Comment:  This is a brief in support of a series on UFOs. The science briefs are intended to prepare readers for the series and establish the view from a rational perspective. The Privileged Planet speaks to the limits of science and how the cosmos were designed for human discovery. 

The Privileged Planet

The search for purpose in the universe. Guilermo Gonzalez, PhD and Jay Richards , PhD explore the cosmos and present the case that not only is life a statistical improbabilty off the Earth but they make the preposterous claim that right here on the planet Earth life is an improbability! But sentient and intelligent human life persists.  They go further and claim that the cosmos was designed for human discovery. 

In the works they present many fascinating concepts and demonstrate that the planet Earth is more than a speck of dust floating in the cosmic sea. The planet Earth seemingly is placed with precision and strategy.

The Privileged Planet lists many aspects of Earth that make it just right for life as we know it and therefore a special planet. Some of the findings and claims include:

1. The Earth is just the right distance from the Sun so that water can exist in its liquid state, which is vital for carbon-based life.  If the Earth was 5% closer, our atmosphere would be more like Venus with temperatures up to 900º F.  If it were 5% more distant, then it would be more like the frozen planet Mars.
2. The Moon stabilizes the Earth's axis, thereby giving us the seasons which are vital to life.
3. The atmosphere blocks gamma rays, UV rays, and x-rays.  The light that does penetrate is just what is needed for life.
4. If the Earth's Gravity were increased, then no life larger than a pea could exist.
5. Our solar system has large planets that shield Earth from comet impacts.
6. Earth occupies the right location in the galaxy.
7. Earth has a thin crust that allows plate tectonics.
8. Has oxygen in the atmosphere to support life.
9. The Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon and is also 400 times farther away.  This creates a total eclipse of the Sun where the Moon just covers the Sun.  In 1870, this was used to discover helium.  
10. In 1919, the eclipse was again used to verify Einstein's theory that the gravity from the Sun would bend light passing it.
11. The atmosphere is transparent, allowing us to view the stars and other planets.
12. Many scientific formulas describing the Universe and how it works are incredibly simple, making them easy to discover and understand.

While the argument is made about life in general being statisitical improbability, the argument is not about life in general but is about sentient and intelligent life placed in a universe designed for discovery. 

Reference:

Gonzalez, G. And Richardson, J. (2004). The privileged planet: how our place in the cosmos is designed for discovery. Regnery Publishing Company. USA.