RE: Question on quantum computing and many-worlds interpretations of Quantum Mechanics

Parallel universes do NOT have to have the precise same history. If I leave
from New York and you from Los Angeles, you are bound for Chicago and I for
Seattle, we can still cross paths along the way in Dallas. Our origins can
be different and our destinations can be different. Even the time can be
different, since time is relative. I could press a button now and you could
press a button 5 years from now in the same space in another dimension. And
since time is relative then based on the idea that all things are possible
then all things have happened and will happen in the same space and same
time, regardless of whether or not they have the same past or future or even
present. And since all things will happen and time is relative then all
things have happened already and the only thing we actually experience is
not the present or future but rather the past as perceived in a present
setting to understand what will be and why.

Sounds confusing? You should have to live in my head. Of course I'm half
asleep right now so forgive me if what I just said is hard to understand.

The point is that regardless of what one thinks they are going to do, they
have in fact already done it. The end effect of multiple universes is this,
what one will do is done. So regardless of the number of me that may exist,
I have chosen this one to experience. And that is what I call
willed-fatalism.

Don P

 -----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of Iain Strachan
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 01:58
To: George Murphy
Cc: Loren Haarsma; _American Sci Affil
Subject: Re: Question on quantum computing and many-worlds interpretations
of Quantum Mechanics

  Thanks for all the responses that will give some food for thought over
whether the quantum computer necessitates the existence of parallel
universes. However, I don't think this quite addresses the point I was
trying to make.

  It was simply this - that even if it were true that such a device implied
the existence of real parallel universes in which the computations were
carried out simultaneously, it only implies the existence of parallel
universes that have precisely the same history as ours. If Iain Strachan
types in a 400 digit number and hits the "Factorise" button and the
calculation takes place simultaneously in an atronomically large number of
parallel universes, then even so, those universes all had an Iain Strachan
who decided at that precise moment in time to type in those precise digits
and hit the factorise button at the same time. It does not, therefore imply
the existence of parallel universes in which Iain Strachan makes different
decisions - is watching football at that time, or is an atheist, or doesn't
exist at all because his mother didn't fancy his father etc.

  So if all the parallel universes "necessary" for the quantum computing
device to work really exist (in some sense), then they must be all the same,
so it doesn't really prove much, and indeed doesn't mean that interpretation
is better than any other interpretation.

  Iain (thinking for a moment about whether to send this or not and the
corresponding divergence of discussion ...)
Received on Fri Mar 3 06:43:03 2006