Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1161792 | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics | 2007 | 18 Pages |
Abstract
We discuss the meaning of probabilities in the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. We start by presenting very briefly the many worlds theory, how the problem of probability arises, and some unsuccessful attempts to solve it in the past. Then we criticize a recent attempt by Deutsch to derive the quantum mechanical probabilities from the non-probabilistic parts of quantum mechanics and classical decision theory. We further argue that the Born probability does not make sense even as an additional probability rule in the many worlds theory. Our conclusion is that the many worlds theory fails to account for the probabilistic statements of standard (collapse) quantum mechanics.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy (General)
Authors
Meir Hemmo, Itamar Pitowsky,