Can We Understand the Cosmic Evolution?

Abstract

Cosmic evolution is not only governed by the laws of nature as we define them on earth but also by circumstances which appear accidental to us. These are the initial conditions and parameters of our theories which are not determined by first principles. I shall illustrate this using three examples which could fill entire volumes of books. Only if all circumstances fit together can cosmic evolution find its extremely unlikely path to the creation of humanity. I will discuss various ways of looking at these facts.