Re:A Primer on the Doomsday Argument
by lutusp on Monday August 18, 2014 @03:28PM
(#8194142)
> Then what about the parallel universes hypotheses: what if the universe is constantly fragmenting into multiple futures.
Actually, that's the many-worlds hypothesis of quantum theory. Parallel universes refers to something else.
> This proliferation of multiple futures from any moment would tend to provide a way for doomsdays to be circumvented.
Not exactly circumvented. In the many-worlds picture, all outcomes occur, including the one predicted by the Doomsday argument.
> If you are cloned into N futures in this moment, and you're killed in N-1 of them, then you don't know it ...
True but not compelling, because quantum theories don't require each of the many worlds to be occupied by a conscious observer. Were this not so, the universe couldn't have evolved to the point where consciousness was first possible.
Actually, that's the many-worlds hypothesis of quantum theory. Parallel universes refers to something else.
> This proliferation of multiple futures from any moment would tend to provide a way for doomsdays to be circumvented.
Not exactly circumvented. In the many-worlds picture, all outcomes occur, including the one predicted by the Doomsday argument.
> If you are cloned into N futures in this moment, and you're killed in N-1 of them, then you don't know it ...
True but not compelling, because quantum theories don't require each of the many worlds to be occupied by a conscious observer. Were this not so, the universe couldn't have evolved to the point where consciousness was first possible.