Valentine Pontifex

Nitpick: At least 100,000 (or whatever large number it is).

If inflation is true, the universe could very well be infinite. And that does not include the possiblities of other "bubbles" which inflation stoped at. Many inflation models have inflation going on forever; only stopping in specific places which form "universes" such as our own.

Richard Carrier

Thanks all, but I knew all that already, and discuss it all in my paper (including Musgrave's work). I also knew of the NFL critique by Stockwell, but he does not provide the information I am looking for (except partly). I have contacted him directly.

Unlike the informal practice on the forums, a published paper cannot just "assume" everyone who advances a similar argument advances the same exact argument. That is my point: I want to make sure I do justice to the other side, and not paint a straw man, by making sure I have read every abiogenesis argument. I'm pretty sure I have. But it would be wrong of me not to at least put out some queries to make sure. That is the purpose of this thread, one among many such queries I have put out, to give everyone a chance to tell me what I am missing or should investigate.

Still, I'll take the lack of anything new as a good sign!

Oh, and P.S.: You are all basically right. Though my online paper makes the case for everything you say and more, my published paper will make it in a more structured and better-organized format, with references and details much-improved.