Quantum Mechanics/Bioshock Infinite- Is there something to this many worlds theory?

[Asita]

It doesn't matter. Though I'm sure that if it is true there's probably a version of me who thinks otherwise. At the end of the day though, we have no way of detecting, observing, or interacting with any other universe and no evidence we possess actually suggests the existence of them as anything more than a thought experiment or fictional concept. As such, whether or not they actually exist doesn't actually matter as our universe is apparently independent from any other universe that might exist, incapable of affecting or being affected by others. So for all intents and purposes our universe - to the best of our knowledge - acts as if it is the only one in existence.

 

[cerebus23]

I dunno if acts like it is the only one really works anymore there are too many unknown factors out there atm like dark energy and dark matter and our accelerating universe until we can figure out the particulars of all that it could be there are external influences on our little pocket of universe.

Nm if the colliding dimensions theory accounts for the "big bang" or random quantum fluctuations that can arbitarily spawn a new big bang at any random moment.

 

[viranimus]

It might not be one of "the rules" but it should. If a question is asked on the internet, the answer will always invariably lead to a cat.

So too do I tend to side with the Cat theory put forth by Schrodinger that all choices exist simultaneously, and rather than a series of branching outcomes what is reality is what we observe it to be. Infinite potential, but singular outcome. So perhaps instead of a multiverse branching outward from each decision, there is a multiverse that constantly perpetuates inward to the inevitable conclusion.

Isnt that how the mind usually works when one makes a decision? there were a series of specific events that could have gone any which way but because they went the way they did when one makes a decision they base it not on all of its potential factors but the most relevant factors that DID in fact come to pass.

 

[Eridani74]

So too do I tend to side with the Cat theory put forth by Schrodinger that all choices exist simultaneously, and rather than a series of branching outcomes what is reality is what we observe it to be. Infinite potential, but singular outcome. So perhaps instead of a multiverse branching outward from each decision, there is a multiverse that constantly perpetuates inward to the inevitable conclusion.

Keep in mind that Schrodinger presented his famous cat thought-experiment as an hyperbolic example of what he considered the silly mechanics of then nascent quantum physics. Of course the quantum physicists turned it around on him and said "Yeah, that's basically how it works, you got a problem with that?"

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In general: The many universes of MWI aren't physical universes in a strict sense that we can observe or interact in any way or that they exist at all. They are just the outcomes of the quantum system that isn't us and their existence (such as it is) can be inferred from our own universe. They are basically just purely mathematical concepts, representing the rest of the phase-space of the universe.

They also have nothing to do with the additional geometric dimensions that string theory posits exist, those are just additional directions along which strings can move, like x, y or z.

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

Chiming in with the other physicists here: the many-world interpretation is philosophy i.e. an attempt to try and make sense out of the mathematical framework of quantum physics while reconciling it with the notions of and labeling it with terms of macroscopic physics that we see in our daily lives. The problem is that all of those I read basically boiled down to guesswork - extremely well done, beautiful and interesting guesswork but guesswork nonetheless and I'm very skeptical towards sprawling theories that usually lack any kind of direct application and seem extremely far-fetched even if they can be concluded from the formalism. Mind you, the questions posed by the conceptual nature of quantum mechanics are highly interesting and its pursuit opened the way to a better understanding of things such as decoherence effects or entropy which factor in when we want to answer the question about how directed, deterministic physics arises from probabilistic quantum mechanics. Still, I think I'll stick with the math when it comes to answering it: after all, the mathematical formalism has been shown to work; Our terminology hasn't.

As for Bioshock Infinite: the game desperately wants to be smart and basically drowns you in allusions to quantum mechanics to make a comment about choice in general and about choice in videogames in particular. I actually like the idea to just take the many-worlds and the Copenhagen Interpretation to tell an interesting story and some interesting comments a lot. Too bad, however, that at the very end Infinite just comes off as pretentious, throwing around complicated concepts and figuratively waving around its hands to appear mysterious. Every scene with the Lutece twins is basically this. And that kind off backfires when they simply forget to mention that the intuitive difficulties of quantum mechanics arise on an atomic scale and not for macroscopic objects for one or when they gloriously take Schrödinger's Cat literally...I never shook my head so hard as in that very scene I think. In other words: don't listen to what the game says and study the math.

 

[Pinkamena]

Its highly probable that our universe is made up of many dimensions, most "GUT" theories or grand unified theories, mostly dealing with string physics, rely and hold up only under multiple dimensions, its the exact number that is unknown because you can arrive at the same place via different numbers get the exact same predictions.

You need something along the lines of a black hole to harness enough power to open a rift between dimensions using worm holes or immense gravemetirc or electromagnetic fields. And even at that you would not bnecessarilly go bouncing around betwen them because that other dimension may have vastly different properties than our own, most dimensions would likely be completely dead with nothing in them. other would have reverse physics or anti gravity etc. hitting a universe like yours would probably be a more improbable thing but the possibility is out there.

It's impressive how quickly that post descended into pseudoscientific bullshit. You have a very wrong idea of what dimensions are. Hint: They're not other worlds.

 

[cerebus23]

they are place where other worlds can exist however.

Hell even our own world might exist across a number of dimensions itself.

But until we actually interact or figure out how and why and what they are exactly its all theories and what ifs.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Some things to consider. Choices are seldom binary. Fish don't make choices. The number of humans is increasing, but finite. Can time and evolution work faster than they do? We are all products of our time, biology and upbringing.

The idea that there is something special about a choice you make - so special that it creates a branching universe where you decided something different breaks down when you think of what happened before humans. Also degrades the power of sacrifice, the value of others and the importance of making good moral choices.

The idea of an Earth-prime with parallel universes is a fun, albeit common conceit in fiction. From Star Trek mirror universe, to Sliding Doors, to Nine Princes in Amber. It allows us to explore themes of choice, destiny, pre-determination, uniqueness and engage in fantasies about power and control.

If you feel you need saving now than I would suggest looking at yourself, your resources and those of the people you know and where you are now rather than speculating about an imaginary place where you are happy and powerful and somehow inclined to worry about the infinite "versions of you" that need rescuing. Fantasy only takes you so far.

Why do you need saving? I cannot break reality and I don't own a (full size) TARDIS, but unlike your fictional alter ego people on this bulletin board do exist and can help.

I mean there are people worse off than I am, but as of late I've been having a rough time and I'm in a situation that the only choice is to eat a shit sandwhich and like it.

Like I would need reality altering powers to fix things, and it would be just lovely to pull open a tare and just go to the world where everything is how I feel it should be. Meh.

 

[Eridani74]

they are place where other worlds can exist however.

Hell even our own world might exist across a number of dimensions itself.

But until we actually interact or figure out how and why and what they are exactly its all theories and what ifs.

Our world does exist over multiple dimensions, collectively known as space-time, that is the three spatial dimensions of up/down, left/right, forward/back, and time. The dimensions are not a place where an universe can be, they are what define what the universe is and how it behaves.
String Theory claims that there are additional, folded-up dimensions in every point in space-time, along which strings (the fundamental object of String Theory) can move. These dimensions were added to String Theory's model of the universe to balance the equations necessary to describe pre-existing observations of our universe while using Strings.
Some flavors of String Theory do say that sets of dimensions (so-called Branes, because they are like two-dimensional membranes moving in three dimensions, while they're actually 4-21 dimensional universes moving through an even higher order set of dimensions) can move along another one, and when these branes meet they influence each other and cause Big Bang like events.

 

[Tsukuyomi]

Knowing what little science I do, (as I am not really acquainted with such things as Quantum Physics outside of the famous or infamous stuff many educated people know of even if they don't understand it) I'll just say part of me would like the idea to be real. But most likely it's either not true or something we'll never be able to prove and/or use to any extent.

If it somehow was proved to be true and we could view and/or travel them? Sign me up. I'd be interested to see what's out there.

 

[BeeGeenie]

It's an interesting thought experiment, with a lot of useful applications, but no, I don't believe in the infinite universe, many world theory.

And even if there were an infinite number of beings that are "you," they wouldn't really be you... if you get me. They would each be an exact duplicate with the same thoughts and memories (up to whatever divergences existed within that universe) but they would still be a completely separate entity from the you in this universe.

 

[Hoplon]

Snipped for brevity

I suddenly had the thought that quantum computing relies on the MWI of Quantum mechanics to work doesn't it? Not that a true quantum computer has been yet as far as i know.

 

[Pinkamena]

Snipped for brevity

I suddenly had the thought that quantum computing relies on the MWI of Quantum mechanics to work doesn't it? Not that a true quantum computer has been yet as far as i know.

No, not really. A quantum computer relies on the fact that quantum systems have probability distributions, i.e. many values at the same time until it interacts with the outside world and its waveform collapses to a single value. The MWI stems from the same fact, but it's just a philosophical idea without any use in a scientific sense.

 

[Scarim Coral]

While I do think about it althought I am thinking more as an "what if" situation. The whole many worlds theory is truly infinite if you're consider your oppersite action you take alone, then you must take in the other oppersite that someone else take aswell meaning the enture population on Earth.

 

[cerebus23]

they are place where other worlds can exist however.

Hell even our own world might exist across a number of dimensions itself.

But until we actually interact or figure out how and why and what they are exactly its all theories and what ifs.

Our world does exist over multiple dimensions, collectively known as space-time, that is the three spatial dimensions of up/down, left/right, forward/back, and time. The dimensions are not a place where an universe can be, they are what define what the universe is and how it behaves.
String Theory claims that there are additional, folded-up dimensions in every point in space-time, along which strings (the fundamental object of String Theory) can move. These dimensions were added to String Theory's model of the universe to balance the equations necessary to describe pre-existing observations of our universe while using Strings.
Some flavors of String Theory do say that sets of dimensions (so-called Branes, because they are like two-dimensional membranes moving in three dimensions, while they're actually 4-21 dimensional universes moving through an even higher order set of dimensions) can move along another one, and when these branes meet they influence each other and cause Big Bang like events.

Is the higgs field a dimension unto itself? or is it just an energy field?