Re: Infinite Universe analogy for MWI

From: Gale <wmgale.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 11:25:29 -0400

Jacques M Mallah wrote:
>
> On Sun, 2 May 1999, Gale wrote:
> > I’m not sure if you mean this
> > literally, or as an analogy that makes a convenient way to
> > think for most purposes. It is certainly a convenient
> > analogy.
>
> I basically use it as an analogy, since I think it helps people
> understand measure, identity and mortality issues better. (Which is to
> say, to reject "quantum immortality".) But it also is true, if one reads
> it as "In an infinite universe, the predictions ..."

Looks like I am reading you correctly.

> It never ceases to amaze me that many people who are adamantly
> opposed to the MWI accept an infinite universe without blinking an eye.
> This analogy also shows that the MWI is really a conservative hypothesis.

That is quite interesting. Especially since priors on how a universe
might form tend to suggest finite universes.


> Right. Although I suppose one could generalize the idea of a
> non-MWI infinite universe to include such things as Lee Smolin's universes
> that are produced by black holes.
> Current observations indicate that our universe is open and
> suggest that the expansion is accelerating.

I read current findings as general agreement on a hyperbolic geometry
(with accelerating expansion even) but that whether this is associated
with a closed or open universe is still undecided.

> - - - - - - -
> Jacques Mallah (jqm1584.domain.name.hidden)

Gale
Received on Tue May 04 1999 - 08:29:36 PDT