Objective probability and the mind-body relation

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2017.01.007zbMATH Open1357.81015arXiv1702.02140OpenAlexW2586633963MaRDI QIDQ515367FDOQ515367

Authors: Paul Tappenden 

Publication date: 13 March 2017

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Objective probability in quantum mechanics is often thought to involve a stochastic process whereby an actual future is selected from a range of possibilities. Everett's seminal idea is that all possible definite futures on the pointer basis exist as components of a macroscopic linear superposition. I demonstrate that these two conceptions of what is involved in quantum processes are linked by two alternative interpretation of the mind-body relation. This leads to a fission, rather than divergence, interpretation of Everettian theory and to a novel explanation of why a principle of indifference does not apply to self-location uncertainty for a post-measurement, pre-observation subject, just as Sebens and Carroll claim. Their Epistemic Separability Principle is shown to arise out of this explanation and the derivation of the Born rule for Everettian theory is thereby put on a firmer footing.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1702.02140

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zbMATH Keywords

measurement problemEverettEverett-Wheelermind-brain identitytwin Earth

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Physics (00A79) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Axioms; other general questions in probability (60A05)

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Cited In (8)

• Pilot-Wave theory without nonlocality
• Uncertainty and probability for branching selves
• Belief update across fission
• Is quantum suicide painless? On an apparent violation of the Principal Principle
• Objective probability in Everettian quantum mechanics
• Does it make sense to speak of self-locating uncertainty in the universal wave function? Remarks on Sebens and Carroll
• In defence of the self-location uncertainty account of probability in the many-worlds interpretation
• Derivations of the Born Rule

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