anthropic principle
noun
: either of two principles in cosmology:
a
: conditions that are observed in the universe must allow the observer to exist
called also weak anthropic principle
b
: the universe must have properties that make inevitable the existence of intelligent life
called also strong anthropic principle
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Carter’s observation that our universe is finely tuned for the emergence of life has been called the anthropic principle. 
Alan Lightman, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 One example is the anthropic principle, which dates back to the 1960s. John Horgan, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 Weinberg largely avoided the many boring diatribes surrounding the anthropic principle that followed, contenting himself with having pragmatically used anthropic reasoning to make a correct prediction about nature. Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2021 See More
Alan Lightman, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2022 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 One example is the anthropic principle, which dates back to the 1960s. John Horgan, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 The topics of conversation included evolutionary theory, libertarian philosophy, and the anthropic principle, which holds that observations about the universe depend on the existence of a consciousness that can observe. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 Weinberg largely avoided the many boring diatribes surrounding the anthropic principle that followed, contenting himself with having pragmatically used anthropic reasoning to make a correct prediction about nature. Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1974, in the meaning defined above