Lewis, Peter J. (2005) Probability in Everettian quantum mechanics. [Preprint]

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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.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Lewis, Peter J.
Keywords:	Many worlds, Everett, probability.
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Peter J. Lewis
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2006
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:14
Item ID:	2716
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	September 2005
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2716

Available Versions of this Item

• Deutsch on quantum decision theory. (deposited 20 Aug 2003)
  • Probability in Everettian quantum mechanics. (deposited 23 Apr 2006) [Currently Displayed]

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