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The Metaphysics of D-CTCs: On the Underlying Assumptions of Deutsch's Quantum Solution to the Paradoxes of Time Travel

Dunlap, Lucas (2015) The Metaphysics of D-CTCs: On the Underlying Assumptions of Deutsch's Quantum Solution to the Paradoxes of Time Travel. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I argue that Deutsch’s model for the behavior of systems traveling around closed timelike curves (CTCs) relies implicitly on a substantive metaphysical assumption. Deutsch is employing a version of quantum theory with a significantly supplemented ontology of parallel existent worlds, which differ in kind from the many worlds of the Everett interpretation. Standard Everett does not support the existence of multiple identical copies of the world, which the D-CTC model requires. This has been obscured because he often refers to the branching structure of Everett as a “multiverse”, and describes quantum interference by reference to parallel interacting definite worlds. But he admits that this is only an approximation to Everett. The D-CTC model, however, relies crucially on the existence of a multiverse of parallel interacting worlds. Since his model is supplemented by structures that go significantly beyond quantum theory, and play an ineliminable role in its predictions and explanations, it does not represent a quantum solution to the paradoxes of time travel.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Dunlap, Lucasldunlap1@umd.edu
Keywords: Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Closed Timelike Curves, Everett Interpretation, Paradoxes of Time Travel
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Computation/Information
Specific Sciences > Computation/Information > Quantum
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Lucas Dunlap
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2015 23:16
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2015 23:16
Item ID: 11374
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Computation/Information
Specific Sciences > Computation/Information > Quantum
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 2015
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11374

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