Everettian quantum mechanics and physical probability: Against the principle of “State Supervenience”

Jansson, Lina

Abstract

Everettian quantum mechanics faces the challenge of how to make sense of probability and probabilistic reasoning in a setting where there is typically no unique outcome of measurements. Wallace has built on a proof by Deutsch to argue that a notion of probability can be recovered in the many worlds setting. In particular, Wallace argues that a rational agent has to assign probabilities in accordance with the Born rule. This argument relies on a rationality constraint that Wallace calls state supervenience. I argue that state supervenience is not defensible as a rationality constraint for Everettian agents unless we already invoke probabilistic notions.

Citation

Jansson, L. (2016). Everettian quantum mechanics and physical probability: Against the principle of “State Supervenience”. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 53, 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2015.12.002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 30, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 3, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Deposit Date: Jul 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 12, 2016
• Journal: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
• Electronic ISSN: 1355-2198
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Pages: 45-53
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2015.12.002
• Keywords: Everettian Quantum Theory, Chance, Decision Theory; State Supervenience
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/777247
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135521981530037X
• Contract Date: Jul 12, 2016