Greaves, Hilary (2004) Understanding Deutsch's probability in a deterministic multiverse. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Difficulties over probability have often been considered fatal to the Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics. Here I argue that the Everettian can have everything she needs from `probability' without recourse to indeterminism, ignorance, primitive identity over time or subjective uncertainty: all she needs is a particular *rationality principle*. The decision-theoretic approach recently developed by Deutsch and Wallace claims to provide just such a principle. But, according to Wallace, decision theory is itself applicable only if the correct attitude to a future Everettian measurement outcome is subjective uncertainty. I argue that subjective uncertainty is not to be had, but I offer an alternative interpretation that enables the Everettian to live without uncertainty: we can justify Everettian decision theory on the basis that an Everettian should *care about* all her future branches. The probabilities appearing in the decision-theoretic representation theorem can then be interpreted as the degrees to which the rational agent cares about each future branch. This reinterpretation, however, reduces the intuitive plausibility of one of the Deutsch-Wallace axioms (Measurement Neutrality).

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Greaves, Hilary
Commentary on:	Wallace, David (2002) Quantum Probability and Decision Theory, Revisited. [Preprint]
Additional Information:	To appear in Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, September 2004.
Keywords:	Quantum mechanics Everett interpretation Many worlds interpretation Decision theory Probability
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics General Issues > Decision Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Hilary Greaves
Date Deposited:	03 May 2004
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:12
Item ID:	1742
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics General Issues > Decision Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	April 2004
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1742

Commentary/Response Threads

• Wallace, David Quantum Probability and Decision Theory, Revisited. (deposited 18 Nov 2002)
  • Baker, David Measurement Outcomes and Probability in Everettian Quantum Mechanics. (deposited 21 May 2006)
  • Greaves, Hilary Understanding Deutsch's probability in a deterministic multiverse. (deposited 03 May 2004) [Currently Displayed]

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