Enlightenment, Knowledge, Ignorance, Temptation

Abstract

I discuss the historical and conceptual roots of reasoning about the parameters of fundamental physics and cosmology based on selection effects. I argue concretely that such reasoning can and should be combined with arguments based on symmetry and dynamics; it supplements them, but does not replace them.

Comments: 10 pages, 5 figures. Summary talk at ``Expectations of a Final Theory'', Trinity College, Cambridge, September 2005. v2: date of earlier conference corrected (2003->2001)