On the many-worlds FAQ: http://www.anthropic-principle.com/preprints/manyworlds.html
It states that many-worlds implies that worlds split rather than multiple, identical, pre-existing worlds differentiate: "Q19 Do worlds differentiate or split? --------------------------------- Can we regard the separate worlds that result from a measurement-like interaction (See "What is a measurement?") as having previous existed distinctly and merely differentiated, rather than the interaction as having split one world into many? This is definitely not permissable in many-worlds or any theory of quantum theory consistent with experiment. Worlds do not exist in a quantum superposition independently of each other before they decohere or split. The splitting is a physical process, grounded in the dynamical evolution of the wave vector, not a matter of philosophical, linguistic or mental convenience (see "Why do worlds split?" and "When do worlds split?") If you try to treat the worlds as pre-existing and separate then the maths and probabilistic behaviour all comes out wrong." However, just below, in the Many-minds question: "Q20 What is many-minds? ------------------ Many-minds proposes, as an extra fundamental axiom, that an infinity of separate minds or mental states be associated with each single brain state. When the single physical brain state is split into a quantum superposition by a measurement (See "What is a measurement?") the associated infinity of minds are thought of as differentiating rather than splitting. The motivation for this brain-mind dichotomy seems purely to avoid talk of minds splitting and talk instead about the differentiation of pre-existing separate mental states." Based on the answers provided in this FAQ, it sounds as though many-minds permits differentiation of pre-existing observers whereas many-worlds does not permit differentiation. The many-minds interpretation also sounds much more similar to computationalism as described by Bruno. Computationalism + arithmetical realism supposes that all possible computations exist, and yield all possible observers. Therefore, the consciousness of these observers would differentiate, rather than split, since they all existed beforehand. What are others thoughts on this FAQ or reasoning? Is there something many-minds offers over many-worlds? How exactly does differentiation conflict with experimental evidence and the predicted probabilities? How does many-minds lead to interference patterns, or only allow a photon one exit path from an interferometer? Is this the primary question for computationalism to answer? Jason -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-l...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
