The mathematical universe
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Publication:2481233
DOI10.1007/S10701-007-9186-9zbMATH Open1132.00311arXiv0704.0646OpenAlexW1966058685WikidataQ54060087 ScholiaQ54060087MaRDI QIDQ2481233FDOQ2481233
Authors: Max Tegmark 
Publication date: 9 April 2008
Published in: Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)
Abstract: I explore physics implications of the External Reality Hypothesis (ERH) that there exists an external physical reality completely independent of us humans. I argue that with a sufficiently broad definition of mathematics, it implies the Mathematical Universe Hypothesis (MUH) that our physical world is an abstract mathematical structure. I discuss various implications of the ERH and MUH, ranging from standard physics topics like symmetries, irreducible representations, units, free parameters, randomness and initial conditions to broader issues like consciousness, parallel universes and Godel incompleteness. I hypothesize that only computable and decidable (in Godel's sense) structures exist, which alleviates the cosmological measure problem and help explain why our physical laws appear so simple. I also comment on the intimate relation between mathematical structures, computations, simulations and physical systems.
Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0704.0646
Recommendations
Physics (00A79) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Foundations of fluid mechanics (76A02) Axiomatics, foundations (70A05)
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