Wilson, Alastair (2006) Modal Metaphysics and the Everett Interpretation. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)
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Abstract
Recent work on probability in the Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics yields a decision-theoretic derivation of David Lewis’ Principal Principle, and hence a general metaphysical theory of probability; part 1 is a discussion of this remarkable result. I defend the claim that the ‘subjective uncertainty’ principle is required for the derivation to succeed, arguing that it amounts to a theoretical identification of chance. In part 2, I generalize this account, and suggest that the Everett interpretation, in combination with a plausible view of natural laws, has the potential to provide a reductive theory of metaphysical modality. I defend the resulting naturalistic modal realism, and outline some of its implications for other parts of metaphysics.
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| Item Type: | Other | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | Manuscript originally produced for a university examination, substantially rewritten. A more compact version will be forthcoming later this year. | ||||||
| Keywords: | modality possibility Everett many-worlds modal realism necessity possibility | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Depositing User: | Alastair Wilson | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2006 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2010 15:13 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 2635 | ||||||
| Public Domain: | No | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics |
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| Date: | 2006 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2635 |
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