On Fri, 01 Aug 1997 Damien Broderick <damien@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au> Wrote:
>Hodgson's book:
>`The absurdity is highlighted when one considers that in some
>situations quantum mechanical probabilities can be given by
>irrational numbers (not expressible as a fraction), so that in those
>cases... the determination of the number of worlds to be created
>would have to be the result of some approximation chosen by Nature.'
>(p. 338)
>I have never seen this objection met; on the other hand, Hodgson's
>book was well received by QT-canny people such as Paul Davies.
Well OK, but I don't understand why this is an "objection". If nature deals
in irrational numbers then that's just the way it is and ANY interpretation
must deal with it. There may indeed be a random element in determining how
many universes get made, there is some randomness in almost all physical
phenomenon, I don't see why Everett should feel more guilty about it than
anybody else.
One more thing, if modern physics has taught us anything it is that the
absurdity of something tells us nothing about it's truth.
John K Clark johnkc@well.com
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