Hi,
I think this paper might be fodder for a nice discussion!
http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.5295
About the Infinite Repetition of Histories in Space
Francisco José Soler Gil
<http://arxiv.org/find/physics/1/au:+Gil_F/0/1/0/all/0/1>,Manuel Alfonseca
<http://arxiv.org/find/physics/1/au:+Alfonseca_M/0/1/0/all/0/1>
(Submitted on 22 Jan 2013 (v1 <http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.5295v1>), last revised 23 Jan
2013 (this version, v2))
This paper analyzes two different proposals, one by Ellis and Brundrit,
based on
classical relativistic cosmology, the other by Garriga and Vilenkin, based
on the DH
interpretation of quantum mechanics, both of which conclude that, in an
infinite
universe, planets and living beings must be repeated an infinite number of
times. We
point to some possible shortcomings in the arguments of these authors. We
conclude
that the idea of an infinite repetition of histories in space cannot be
considered
strictly speaking a consequence of current physics and cosmology. Such
ideas should
be seen rather as examples of {\guillemotleft}ironic
science{\guillemotright} in the
terminology of John Horgan.
The idea that there are infinitely many universe (or an infinitely big one) and therefore
everything must be repeated infinitely many times is incoherent. If there's a copy of
this universe, then it *IS* this universe by Leibniz's identity of indiscernibles.
Similarly, if this universe is infinitely large it must have infinitely many different
possible states - otherwise it would start repeating somewhere and, as I remarked above, a
repeat is just the same thing double counted. So what makes sense is to say the universe
(whether conceived as spacetime or as a Hilbert space) is unbounded, it can always get
bigger and have more states - which seems to be supported by the expansion of the universe.
Brent
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