How does the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics connect observation to the participatory anthropic principle?

The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics posits that physical phenomena do not possess definite properties until they are measured or observed. This core tenet serves as the foundation for the participatory anthropic principle (PAP), proposed by physicist John Archibald Wheeler.12

Wheeler suggested that if one accepts the Copenhagen view—that no phenomenon exists independently of an observation—then observers may be fundamentally necessary to give the universe meaning and reality. In this framework, the act of observation is not merely a passive recording of pre-existing states but a participatory event that helps bring the observed phenomena into existence. Consequently, the PAP implies that the presence of observers is a prerequisite for the universe to manifest as a definite, coherent reality.2

It is important to note that this interpretation remains a subject of significant debate, as it is difficult to determine how or if the principles of quantum mechanics, which are well-established for microscopic systems, can be applied to the entire universe.2