paper

Delirium Quantum

arXiv:0906.1968 · doi:10.1063/1.2713493

Abstract

This pseudo-paper consists of excerpts drawn from two of my quantum-email samizdats. Section 1 draws a picture of a physical world whose essence is ``Darwinism all the way down.'' Section 2 outlines how quantum theory should be viewed in light of this, i.e., as being an expression of probabilism (in Bruno de Finetti or Richard Jeffrey's sense) all the way back up. Section 3 describes how the idea of ``identical'' quantum measurement outcomes, though sounding atomistic in character, nonetheless meshes well with a Jamesian style ``radical pluralism.'' Sections 4 and 5 further detail how quantum theory should not be viewed so much as a ``theory of the world,'' but rather as a theory of decision-making for agents immersed within a world of a particular character--the quantum world. Finally, Sections 6 and 7 attempt to sketch the very positive sense in which quantum theory is incomplete, but still just as complete is it can be. In total, I hope these heady speculations convey some of the excitement and potential I see for the malleable world quantum mechanics hints of.

Stuffed away in a conference proceedings for years, I finally worked up the nerve to post this because I needed to cite it in a paper with some proper equations. Stay posted

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