Our decision are classical, so (even in the Everett quantum world) they do not "create new worlds”. I suspect Sean Carroll is quoted out of context, as indeed that is a mistake (a common one).
Bruno > On 16 Sep 2019, at 15:28, Philip Thrift <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > On Monday, September 16, 2019 at 7:11:30 AM UTC-5, Bruce wrote: > On Mon, Sep 16, 2019 at 9:58 PM John Clark <[email protected] <javascript:>> > wrote: > On Mon, Sep 16, 2019 at 4:49 AM Philip Thrift <[email protected] > <javascript:>> wrote: > > > "Many Worlds" (as demonstrated via Sean Carroll here) demonstrates a > > failure of theoretical physics, or philosophy, or both. > > And I think the above demonstrates a lack of courage to face the possibility > that reality may be structured in ways you do not like. As Carl Sagan said > "The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition". > > Perhaps he could usefully have added: "nor to be in perfect harmony with any > humanly devised equation." > > Bruce > > > > http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=11277 > <http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=11277> > > An Apology > > Posted on September 15, 2019 > <http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=11277> by woit > <http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?author=2> > I’m afraid I made a serious mistake in this previous posting discussing Sean > Carroll’s new book <http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=11128>. > Since the book was relatively reasonable, while the jacket and promotional > material that came with it were nonsense, I assumed that Carroll was just > being ill-served by his publisher. It’s now clear I was very wrong. He’s on a > book tour, and the nonsense is exactly what he is putting front and center as > a revelation to the public about how to understand quantum mechanics. For a > couple examples, here’s what was on the PBS News Hour > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsXCwUsuvKo> > The “many worlds” theory in quantum mechanics suggests that with every > decision you make, a new universe springs into existence containing what > amounts to a new version of you. Bestselling author and theoretical physicist > Sean Carroll discusses the concept and his new book, “Something Deeply > Hidden,” with NewsHour Weekend’s Tom Casciato. > > and here’s something from his talk down the street from me > <https://twitter.com/Dr_CMingarelli/status/1171578265649201157>. > > Using your public platform to tell people that the way to understand quantum > mechanics is that the world splits depending on what you decide to do is > simply What the Bleep? <https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=83> > level stupidity. Those in the physics and science communication communities > who care about the public understanding of quantum mechanics should think > hard about what they can do to deal with this situation. They may however > come to the same conclusion I’ve just reached: best to ignore him, which I’ll > try to do from now on. > > @philipthrift > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/dc4c393e-7f4c-4146-979a-7e5874f3b4e0%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/dc4c393e-7f4c-4146-979a-7e5874f3b4e0%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/everything-list/5AB7663F-C12B-4EAC-A333-EC39BFD11AED%40ulb.ac.be.
