The Emergent Multiverse presents a striking new account of the 'many
worlds' approach to quantum theory. The point of science, it is
generally accepted, is to tell us how the world works and what it is
like. But quantum theory seems to fail to do this: taken literally as
a theory of the world, it seems to make crazy claims: particles are in
two places at once; cats are alive and dead at the same time. So
physicists and philosophers have often been led either to give up on
the idea that quantum theory describes reality, or to modify or
augment the theory. The Everett interpretation of quantum mechanics
takes the apparent craziness seriously, and asks, 'what would it be
like if particles really were in two places at once, if cats really
were alive and dead at the same time'? The answer, it turns out, is
that if the world were like that--if it were as quantum theory
claims--it would be a world that, at the macroscopic level, was
constantly branching into copies--hence the more sensationalist name
for the Everett interpretation, the 'many worlds theory'. But really,
the interpretation is not sensationalist at all: it simply takes
quantum theory seriously, literally, as a description of the world.
Once dismissed as absurd, it is now accepted by many physicists as the
best way to make coherent sense of quantum theory. David Wallace
offers a clear and up-to-date survey of work on the Everett
interpretation in physics and in philosophy of science, and at the
same time provides a self-contained and thoroughly modern account of
it--an account which is accessible to readers who have previously
studied quantum theory at undergraduate level, and which will shape
the future direction of research by leading experts in the field.
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Quantum Theory according to the Everett Interpretation
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780191631344
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Oxford University Press Academic UK
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter