The Quantum Mechanics of Minds and Worlds

Jeffrey Barrett presents the most comprehensive study yet of a problem that has puzzled physicists and philosophers since the 1930s. The standard theory of quantum mechanics is one of the most successful physical theories ever, predicting the behavior of the basic constituents of all physical things; no other theory has ever made such accurate empirical predictions. However, if one tries to understand the theory as a complete and accurate framework for the description of behavior of all physical interactions, it becomes evident that the theory is ambiguous, even logically inconsistent. To deal with this dilemma, in the 1950s, Hugh Everett III initiated the quantum measurement problem. Barrett gives a careful and challenging examination and evaluation of Everett's work and of those who have followed him. Barrett's informal approach and engaging narrative make this book accessible and illuminating for philosophers, physicists, and anyone interested in the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Jeffrey Barrett presents the most comprehensive study yet of a problem that has puzzled physicists and philosophers since the 1930s. Quantum mechanics is in one sense the most successful physical theory ever, accurately predicting the behavior of the basic constituents of matter. But it has an apparent ambiguity or inconsistency at its heart; Barrett gives a clear and challenging evaluation of attempts to deal with this problem.

Booknews

Barrett (philosophy, U. of California-Irvine) addresses the quantum measurement problem, which is that if the highly successful theory of quantum mechanics is understood to provide a complete and accurate description of all physical interactions, it is quickly revealed as ambiguous as best and more likely logically inconsistent. He assumes readers to know something already about how quantum mechanics works and to be comfortable with at least some of its mathematics. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

PREFACE......Page 10 CONTENTS......Page 12 LIST OF FIGURES......Page 15 1 A BRIEF INTRODUCTION......Page 18 2 THE STANDARD FORMULATION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS......Page 35 3 THE THEORY OF THE UNIVERSAL WAVE FUNCTION......Page 73 4 THE BARE THEORY AND DETERMINATE EXPERIENCE......Page 109 5 SELECTING A BRANCH......Page 138 6 MANY WORLDS......Page 166 7 MANY MINDS......Page 202 8 MANY HISTORIES......Page 238 9 THE DETERMINATE-EXPERIENCE PROBLEM......Page 262 APPENDIX A: THE HILBERT-SPACE FORMALISM......Page 266 APPENDIX B: A CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF AN EPR EXPERIMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BARE THEORY......Page 269 REFERENCES......Page 272 INDEX......Page 280 THE standard theory of quantum mechanics, as formulated by P. A. M. Dirac and John von Neumann, is in one sense the most successful physical theory ever-no other theory has ever made such accurate empirical predictions.