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Related papers: Against Many-Worlds Interpretations

200 papers

I argue that the many worlds explanation of quantum computation is not licensed by, and in fact is conceptually inferior to, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics from which it is derived. I argue that the many worlds…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2012-03-08 Michael Cuffaro

We begin by discussing ``What exists?'', i.e. ontology, in Classical Physics which provided a description of physical phenomena at the macroscopic level. The microworld however necessitates a introduction of Quantum ideas for its…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Virendra Singh

Many advocates of the Everettian interpretation consider that theirs is the only approach to take quantum mechanics really seriously, and that this approach allows to deduce a fantastic scenario for our reality, one that consists of an…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2015-10-19 Diederik Aerts , Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi

It is argued that a realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics is possible and useful. Current interpretations, from Copenhagen to many worlds are critically revisited. The difficulties for intuitive models of quantum physics are pointed…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2017-01-11 Emilio Santos

I propose a new class of interpretations, {\it real world interpretations}, of the quantum theory of closed systems. These interpretations postulate a preferred factorization of Hilbert space and preferred projective measurements on one…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2012-02-24 Adrian Kent

The status of the uncertainty relations varies between the different interpretations of quantum mechanics. The aim of the current paper is to explore their meanings within a certain neo-Everettian many worlds interpretation. We will also…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2023-04-21 Dominic Horsman

The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics predicts the formation of distinct parallel worlds as a result of a quantum mechanical measurement. Communication among these parallel worlds would experimentally rule out alternatives to…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2014-11-18 R. Plaga

I analyze the possibility of free-will in the many-worlds interpretation (MWI), arguing for their compatibility. I use as a starting point Nicolas Gisin's "The Multiverse Pandemic" (preprint arXiv:2210.05377, after Gisin, N.,…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2024-10-07 Ovidiu Cristinel Stoica

Everett's relative states interpretation of quantum mechanics has met with problems related to probability, the preferred basis, and multiplicity. The third theme, I argue, is the most important one. It has led to developments of the…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2011-08-10 Louis Marchildon

Two works related to the concept of probability in the framework of the many-worlds interpretation are presented. The first deals with recent controversy in classical probability theory. Elga and D. Lewis argues that Sleeping Beauty should…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Lev Vaidman

Hilary Putnam (1965, 2005) has argued that from a realist perspective, quantum mechanics stands in need of an interpretation. Ironically, this hypothesis may appear vulnerable against arguments drawing on Putnam's own work. Nancy Cartwright…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2014-06-24 Christian Wuthrich

Recently, we pointed out the possible inconsistency in the very foundations of the Everett MWI (or a Multiverse) theory. Here, we place some emphasis on the very basic notions underlying our conclusion yet motivated by certain, recently…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2010-07-27 M. Dugic , J. Jeknic-Dugic

From its beginning, there have been attempts by physicists to formulate quantum mechanics without requiring the use of wave functions. An interesting recent approach takes the point of view that quantum effects arise solely from the…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2015-11-02 Ian W. McKeague , Bruce Levin

Hugh Everett III presented pure wave mechanics, sometimes referred to as the many-worlds interpretation, as a solution to the quantum measurement problem. While pure wave mechanics is an objectively deterministic physical theory with no…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-12-12 Jeffrey A. Barrett

Quantum Mechanics, the physical theory describing the microworld, represents one of science's greatest triumphs. It lies at the root of all modern digital technologies and offers unparalleled correspondence between prediction and…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2016-04-25 Adam Frank

Schroedinger's first proposal for the interpretation of quantum mechanics was based on a postulate relating the wave function on configuration space to charge density in physical space. Schroedinger apparently later thought that his…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2016-06-07 Valia Allori , Sheldon Goldstein , Roderich Tumulka , Nino Zanghi

The interpretation of quantum mechanics has been a problem since its founding days. A large contribution to the discussion of possible interpretations of quantum mechanics is given by the so-called impossibility proofs for hidden variable…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2010-02-09 Ronnie Hermens

An out of the box intellectual path exploring the foundations of quantum mechanics is discussed in some detail, in order to clarify why a possibly different way to look at the relevant fundamental questions can be identified and can support…

General Physics · Physics 2012-11-06 Alberto Ottolenghi

Recent accounts of probability in the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics are vulnerable due to their dependence on probability theory per se. For this reason, the many worlds interpretation continues to suffer from the…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-10-06 Michael Ridley

Epistemic models of nature prove to be problematic in many settings, particularly in those in which measurement procedures are ill-defined. By contrast, in ontological models of nature, measurement results are independent of the procedure…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2018-12-06 Ian T. Durham