Is quantum suicide painless? On an apparent violation of the Principal Principle

DOI10.1007/S10699-004-6249-7MaRDI QIDQ866997zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Milan M. Ćirković

Publication date 14 February 2007

Published in Foundations of Science (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0412147

zbMATH Keywords

multiversequantum mechanicsprincipal principlepersonal identity

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15)

Abstract: The experimental setup of the self-referential quantum measurement, jovially known as the "quantum suicide" or the "quantum Russian roulette" is analyzed from the point of view of the Principal Principle of David Lewis. It is shown that the apparent violation of this principle--relating objective probabilities and subjective chance--in this type of thought experiment is just an illusion due to the usage of some terms and concepts ill-defined in the quantum context. We conclude that even in the case that Everett's (or some other "no-collapse") theory is a correct description of reality, we can coherently believe in equating subjective credence with objective chance in quantum-mechanical experiments. This is in agreement with results of the research on personal identity in the quantum context by Parfit and Tappenden.

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Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1494348 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2150754 (Why is no real title available?)
• The Doomsday argument, Adam \& Eve, \(\text{UN}^{++}\), and Quantum Joe
• Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems

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