Reality, No Matter How You Slice It
Abstract
In order to reject the notion that information is always about something, the "It from Bit" idea relies on the nonexistence of a realistic framework that might underly quantum theory. This essay develops the case that there is a plausible underlying reality: one actual spacetime-based history, although with behavior that appears strange when analyzed dynamically (one time-slice at a time). By using a simple model with no dynamical laws, it becomes evident that this behavior is actually quite natural when analyzed "all-at-once" (as in classical statistical mechanics). The "It from Bit" argument against a spacetime-based reality must then somehow defend the importance of dynamical laws, even as it denies a reality on which such fundamental laws could operate.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1311.0001,
title = {Reality, No Matter How You Slice It},
author = {Ken Wharton},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.0001},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Third Prize winner in 2013 fqxi.org essay contest, "It from bit, or bit from it?", and sequel to 1211.7081 ("The Universe is not a Computer"). 10 pages, 3 figs