Cosmologic philosophy: Howard A. Smith again (Introduction)

by dhw, Friday, December 16, 2016, 12:14 (2899 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: Your question: "It’s not clear to me, though, why he thinks we have a significant “cosmic” role, " relates to John Wheeler and quantum theory. the idea that without human consciousness to observe the universe it might not exist:
The quantum mechanical pioneer, John Wheeler, is one of several thinkers who have proposed that the unusual nature of the universe suggests it had to evolve conscious beings in order to become real."

dhw: Do you believe that the sun and Planet Earth may not have existed in reality before there was conscious life on Earth?

DAVID:…As long as God's consciousness is present everything in the universe exists. When we come along we don't take over from Him.

I am simply trying to bring some common sense into the discussion. I do not accept the view that without human consciousness, the universe might not be real, and I would just like to know whether you agree with me that the sun and Planet Earth existed in reality before humans came on the scene.