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> > mystical nonsense such as the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics > It's not mystical nonsense, it's a logical consequence of the mathematics o

> > mystical nonsense such as the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics > It's not mystical nonsense, it's a logical consequence of the mathematics of quantum mechanics. It's an interpretation of the mathematics of quantum mechanics. It's not the only possible interpretation. > You may find it distasteful, but it's the way the world appears to be. Yeah? I agree that quantum appears to be the way the world works; show me your concrete evidence for many worlds. You can't do it.

lisper 3y ago
> show me your concrete evidence for many worlds. You can't do it. Most people would agree that the sun emits light in all directions, but there is no way to prove it with concrete evidence. The only thing you can prove with concrete evidence is that the sun emits light in the direction of objects in our solar system that we can see. We infer that the sun emits light in all directions because that is the best explanation that accounts for the data that we have. Many-worlds is the same. We can't demonstrate their existence, we infer it from the current-best explanation that accounts for the data that we have.
- AnimalMuppet 3y ago
  > current-best explanation Many-worlds is by far not accepted to be the "current-best explanation". It's a candidate. It's not clear it's right.
  - lisper 3y ago
    Sorry, I wasn't clear. The current-best explanation is not many worlds, it's the mathematical formalism of QM. Many-worlds is a logical consequence of that.
    - AnimalMuppet 3y ago
      Many worlds is one possible interpretation of the logical consequences of that. It's not nearly as definite or clear-cut as you're making it sound.
      - lisper 3y ago
        It seems pretty clear cut to me. I've seen no argument against it that doesn't involve some logical fallacy. If you think you know of one please enlighten me.
        AnimalMuppet 3y ago
        Well, I'm not an expert. But I know that, among those who are experts, many-worlds is not the consensus or even the majority view. So, while it may seem clear cut to you, it doesn't to everyone. That's why I keep saying that no, it's not clear. I realize that's argument by authority, and that's considered a fallacy...
        lisper 3y ago
        I'm not an expert either. I'm a computer scientist, not a physicist. But the math behind QM -- at least the parts that matter for this discussion -- is pretty straightforward linear algebra. Really, anyone can learn it. So don't take my word for it, look into it and decide for yourself. You can start here: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Physics-Princeton-Foundations-Contemporary/dp/069118352X https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Physics-Princeton-Foundati... https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Experience-David-Albert/dp/0674741129/ https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Experience-David-Al... Or, if you don't feel like buying a book: https://flownet.com/ron/QM.pdf https://flownet.com/ron/QM.pdf Or, if you prefer a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc BTW, it may come as a surprise to learn that I am actually not a big proponent of many-worlds despite recognizing that it is in fact a logical consequence of the math. If so, you may find this interesting too: https://blog.rongarret.info/2009/04/on-shadow-photons-and-real-unicorns.html https://blog.rongarret.info/2009/04/on-shadow-photons-and-re... and a follow-up written ten years later: https://blog.rongarret.info/2019/07/the-trouble-with-many-worlds.html https://blog.rongarret.info/2019/07/the-trouble-with-many-wo...
        knightoffaith 3y ago
        >QM is pretty straightforward linear algebra The chasm between my grades in linear algebra and my grades in quantum begs to differ... :(
- mcguire 3y ago
  My understanding is that the best current interpretation of quantum mechanics is that there is no interpretation and that you just have to do the math.
  - lisper 3y ago
    Yes, that's right. But if you want to assign any meaning to the math, and in particular if you want to adopt an ontology where you exist, then the math leaves you no alternative than to conclude that parallel universes also exist (unless you resort to special pleading like the Copenhagen interpretation).
  - vehemenz 3y ago
    I mean, just doing the math and being agnostic about the strengths of different interpretations seems to be an interpretation. Maybe it's more of an epistemic position than a metaphysical one, but it still kinda counts.

lisper 3y ago

> show me your concrete evidence for many worlds. You can't do it. Most people would agree that the sun emits light in all directions, but there is no way to prove it with concrete evidence. The only thing you can prove with concrete evidence is that the sun emits light in the direction of objects in our solar system that we can see. We infer that the sun emits light in all directions because that is the best explanation that accounts for the data that we have. Many-worlds is the same. We can't demonstrate their existence, we infer it from the current-best explanation that accounts for the data that we have.

AnimalMuppet 3y ago
> current-best explanation Many-worlds is by far not accepted to be the "current-best explanation". It's a candidate. It's not clear it's right.
- lisper 3y ago
  Sorry, I wasn't clear. The current-best explanation is not many worlds, it's the mathematical formalism of QM. Many-worlds is a logical consequence of that.
  - AnimalMuppet 3y ago
    Many worlds is one possible interpretation of the logical consequences of that. It's not nearly as definite or clear-cut as you're making it sound.
    - lisper 3y ago
      It seems pretty clear cut to me. I've seen no argument against it that doesn't involve some logical fallacy. If you think you know of one please enlighten me.
      - AnimalMuppet 3y ago
        Well, I'm not an expert. But I know that, among those who are experts, many-worlds is not the consensus or even the majority view. So, while it may seem clear cut to you, it doesn't to everyone. That's why I keep saying that no, it's not clear. I realize that's argument by authority, and that's considered a fallacy...
        lisper 3y ago
        I'm not an expert either. I'm a computer scientist, not a physicist. But the math behind QM -- at least the parts that matter for this discussion -- is pretty straightforward linear algebra. Really, anyone can learn it. So don't take my word for it, look into it and decide for yourself. You can start here: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Physics-Princeton-Foundations-Contemporary/dp/069118352X https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Physics-Princeton-Foundati... https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Experience-David-Albert/dp/0674741129/ https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Mechanics-Experience-David-Al... Or, if you don't feel like buying a book: https://flownet.com/ron/QM.pdf https://flownet.com/ron/QM.pdf Or, if you prefer a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEaecUuEqfc BTW, it may come as a surprise to learn that I am actually not a big proponent of many-worlds despite recognizing that it is in fact a logical consequence of the math. If so, you may find this interesting too: https://blog.rongarret.info/2009/04/on-shadow-photons-and-real-unicorns.html https://blog.rongarret.info/2009/04/on-shadow-photons-and-re... and a follow-up written ten years later: https://blog.rongarret.info/2019/07/the-trouble-with-many-worlds.html https://blog.rongarret.info/2019/07/the-trouble-with-many-wo...
        knightoffaith 3y ago
        >QM is pretty straightforward linear algebra The chasm between my grades in linear algebra and my grades in quantum begs to differ... :(
mcguire 3y ago
My understanding is that the best current interpretation of quantum mechanics is that there is no interpretation and that you just have to do the math.
- lisper 3y ago
  Yes, that's right. But if you want to assign any meaning to the math, and in particular if you want to adopt an ontology where you exist, then the math leaves you no alternative than to conclude that parallel universes also exist (unless you resort to special pleading like the Copenhagen interpretation).
- vehemenz 3y ago
  I mean, just doing the math and being agnostic about the strengths of different interpretations seems to be an interpretation. Maybe it's more of an epistemic position than a metaphysical one, but it still kinda counts.