I have to admit this question isn't very neatly thought out, but I've always been a bit puzzled by the Anthropic Principle. I realize there are various forms or "strengths" of the idea, and it's not really central to physics at all.
On one level it seems irrefutable, almost tautological. But it also reminds me of various types of Idealism, especially Berkeley's (which has always been kind of appealing). The "facts" or "truth" of physics depend on observation. A universe in which the laws of physics operate must contain observers, whose observations are ergo necessary to the existence of that particular universe.
I'm sure someone can straighten out my poor logic there. Now, to tack on "well, we can imagine other universes" seems a bit evasive. How do philosophers today generally regard the strong versions of the principle? Is ever compared to 18th century idealism? Does it have real and interesting implications, or is it just a kind of chicken-and-egg argument?