Probability in Everettian quantum mechanics
Lewis, Peter J. (2005) Probability in Everettian quantum mechanics.
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Abstract
The main difficulty facing no-collapse theories of quantum mechanics in the Everettian tradition concerns the role of probability within a theory in which every possible outcome of a measurement actually occurs. The problem is two-fold: First, what do probability claims mean within such a theory? Second, what ensures that the probabilities attached to measurement outcomes match those of standard quantum mechanics? Deutsch has recently proposed a decision-theoretic solution to the second problem, according to which agents are rationally required to weight the outcomes of measurements according to the standard quantum-mechanical probability measure. I show that this argument admits counterexamples, and hence fails to establish the standard probability weighting as a rational requirement.
| Keywords: | Many worlds, Everett, probability. |
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| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Physics: Quantum Mechanics |
| ID Code: | 2716 |
| Deposited By: | Lewis, Peter J. |
| Deposited On: | 23 April 2006 |
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- Deutsch on quantum decision theory (deposited 20 August 2003)
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