dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaOn Many-Minds Interpretations of Quantum Theory
| Authors | Matthew J. Donald |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/9703008 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9703008 |
Abstract
This paper is a response to some recent discussions of many-minds interpretations in the philosophical literature. After an introduction to the many-minds idea, the complexity of quantum states for macroscopic objects is stressed. Then it is proposed that a characterization of the physical structure of observers is a proper goal for physical theory. It is argued that an observer cannot be defined merely by the instantaneous structure of a brain, but that the history of the brain's functioning must also be taken into account. Next the nature of probability in many-minds interpretations is discussed and it is suggested that only discrete probability models are needed. The paper concludes with brief comments on issues of actuality and identity over time.
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"abstract": "This paper is a response to some recent discussions of many-minds\ninterpretations in the philosophical literature. After an introduction to the\nmany-minds idea, the complexity of quantum states for macroscopic objects is\nstressed. Then it is proposed that a characterization of the physical structure\nof observers is a proper goal for physical theory. It is argued that an\nobserver cannot be defined merely by the instantaneous structure of a brain,\nbut that the history of the brain\u0027s functioning must also be taken into\naccount. Next the nature of probability in many-minds interpretations is\ndiscussed and it is suggested that only discrete probability models are needed.\nThe paper concludes with brief comments on issues of actuality and identity\nover time.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/9703008",
"authors": [
"Matthew J. Donald"
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"title": "On Many-Minds Interpretations of Quantum Theory",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9703008"
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