Wave-particle duality and free will
The wave-particle duality tells us that reality is on a fundamental level very strange for us humans to comprehend. In short, depending on the situation (or how a quantum experiment is designed), particles behave either as a single particle or as a wave. This has broad implications both physically and philosophically. The two main broad interpretations of this reality is the Copenhagen interpretation (associated with Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg) and the many-worlds interpretation first extrapolated by Hugh Everett. The first takes the quantum wave-particle duality as the fundamental piece of reality, then leading to things that cause the collapse of the wave function into the one reality of which we are all a part. The many-world interpretation implies that the waviness we see is actually an interference between multiple universes that are actually real, though we can only find ourselves in one at any given time.
I mentioned David Deutsch in my previous post. He is a follower of the many worlds interpretation. Stated most simply (this is relative when we get to this fundamental physics stuff), when we run a double-slit experiment, the interference pattern we see is actually telling us that the photons or electrons or whatever particle we use are being interfered with by their identical particles in another universe. Deutsch believes the interference is direct evidence for other universes existing. Now it may not be Occam's razor to all, but then whatever the answer is, it is going to be strange, even if you go with the more accepted Copenhagen interpretation.
Further in the book, Deutsch devises a thought experiment about time travel to further his explanation of the many worlds interpretation. He brings up the grandfather paradox, where you go back in time and kill your grandpa, who then would not be able to have your parent, and therefore you should not exist, hence the paradox. Now if you are of the Copenhagen school, you have to argue that either this type of time travel is absolutely impossible, or somehow, reality will conspire to make it impossible for you to kill your grandfather. Deutsch says that is not a good explanation. Assuming for the moment that this type of time travel is possible, in a Delorian or other time machine, he argues there are people who would choose to, if not kill their grandfather, choose to change something radical enough that the future they know would change. Now assuming still that this time travel is possible (yes, a big assumption), then what is Occam's razor? That the world would somehow conspire to stop these changers, or that doing something to change a timeline implies that there would then be an extra universe (the original one and the changed one)? Deutsch himself chooses the latter as a better explanation of this thought experiment, and one that interference phenomena provides evidence for.
I just watched Donnie Darko and similar questions are asked. In it, Donnie is visited by a scary bunny rabbit (yeah, the movie's got its quirks but in my humble opinion it is well worth watching), who initially saves him from a fate of death when a jet engine falls through his roof and onto his bed. As the movie progresses, Donnie comes to realize he may have the ability to travel back in time and change things. In the end, given the information of how the world with him will go, he (spolier alert, stop reading if you want to watch the movie and want a surprise) chooses to die by being smushed by a jet engine. One way to interpret this is through prophecy, that his self was given information about a possible future if he survived, and he chooses to die to save others. Another is that there are actually two (or more) universes, one where he lives and one where he dies. So either he is given a vision of a possible future or that future is real.
What is interesting is that in either case, Donnie is provided a choice in the matter. In either case, he has the freedom to choose his path. We all have that freedom. While we may not have perfect information about the future we can imagine how our choices will play out in multiple futures. I am not going to argue in this post for either the Copenhagen or many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, but I will argue for our freedom of action. Whether our choices are collapsing wave functions to keep us in one world, a power not to take lightly, or our choices are splitting universes, perhaps an even greater power, we still have a say in the matter. Our choices are real, and they have dramatic effects on the world in which we live. What we do matters to matter and perhaps even more.
I mentioned David Deutsch in my previous post. He is a follower of the many worlds interpretation. Stated most simply (this is relative when we get to this fundamental physics stuff), when we run a double-slit experiment, the interference pattern we see is actually telling us that the photons or electrons or whatever particle we use are being interfered with by their identical particles in another universe. Deutsch believes the interference is direct evidence for other universes existing. Now it may not be Occam's razor to all, but then whatever the answer is, it is going to be strange, even if you go with the more accepted Copenhagen interpretation.
Further in the book, Deutsch devises a thought experiment about time travel to further his explanation of the many worlds interpretation. He brings up the grandfather paradox, where you go back in time and kill your grandpa, who then would not be able to have your parent, and therefore you should not exist, hence the paradox. Now if you are of the Copenhagen school, you have to argue that either this type of time travel is absolutely impossible, or somehow, reality will conspire to make it impossible for you to kill your grandfather. Deutsch says that is not a good explanation. Assuming for the moment that this type of time travel is possible, in a Delorian or other time machine, he argues there are people who would choose to, if not kill their grandfather, choose to change something radical enough that the future they know would change. Now assuming still that this time travel is possible (yes, a big assumption), then what is Occam's razor? That the world would somehow conspire to stop these changers, or that doing something to change a timeline implies that there would then be an extra universe (the original one and the changed one)? Deutsch himself chooses the latter as a better explanation of this thought experiment, and one that interference phenomena provides evidence for.
I just watched Donnie Darko and similar questions are asked. In it, Donnie is visited by a scary bunny rabbit (yeah, the movie's got its quirks but in my humble opinion it is well worth watching), who initially saves him from a fate of death when a jet engine falls through his roof and onto his bed. As the movie progresses, Donnie comes to realize he may have the ability to travel back in time and change things. In the end, given the information of how the world with him will go, he (spolier alert, stop reading if you want to watch the movie and want a surprise) chooses to die by being smushed by a jet engine. One way to interpret this is through prophecy, that his self was given information about a possible future if he survived, and he chooses to die to save others. Another is that there are actually two (or more) universes, one where he lives and one where he dies. So either he is given a vision of a possible future or that future is real.
What is interesting is that in either case, Donnie is provided a choice in the matter. In either case, he has the freedom to choose his path. We all have that freedom. While we may not have perfect information about the future we can imagine how our choices will play out in multiple futures. I am not going to argue in this post for either the Copenhagen or many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, but I will argue for our freedom of action. Whether our choices are collapsing wave functions to keep us in one world, a power not to take lightly, or our choices are splitting universes, perhaps an even greater power, we still have a say in the matter. Our choices are real, and they have dramatic effects on the world in which we live. What we do matters to matter and perhaps even more.
posted by Warrior Poet at 12:40 PM
1 Comments:
A true paradox, indeed! While we, in this particular universe at this particular time, cannot fathom the notion of time travel, does not mean it's impossible. The earth was once flat, too, remember... There are those among us that are too afraid to delve into such theories of multiple universes, etc. for it would be utter blaspheme to do so. There are those that would rather deny science, and live by the code of "keep it simple, stupid", by claiming the universe is only 4,000 years old. BWAHHAHAHA. They cannot accept that we are just a "blip" in time, and to them, that makes their lives irrelevant. Hence, they feel better about themselves if they can hold on to the belief that they are the only beings in the universe. A rather self absorbed and selfish notion, in my opinion. Sooner or later, in some form of energy, or another, two blips will collide and "my oh my" what another paradox that will reveal! To those, I suggest they re-read 2 Peter 3:8 and see if they can expand their minds, and accept the nature of infinite time. --Keef
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