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.

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

References in corpus (9)

• On the reality of the quantum state
• Towards a Formulation of Quantum Theory as a Causally Neutral Theory of Bayesian Inference
• Quantum Dynamics without the Wave Function
• Scalar Field Theory on a Causal Set in Histories Form
• Decoherent Histories Quantum Mechanics with One 'Real' Fine-Grained History
• Quantum States as Ordinary Information
• Action Duality: A Constructive Principle for Quantum Foundations
• Path Integrals and Reality
• Lagrangian-Only Quantum Theory

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Quantum States as Ordinary Information