In Defence of the Self-Location Uncertainty Account of Probability in the Many-Worlds Interpretation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-23-2018
Abstract
We defend the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics (MWI) against the objection that it cannot explain why measurement outcomes are predicted by the Born probability rule. We understand quantum probabilities in terms of an observer's self-location probabilities. We formulate a probability postulate for the MWI: the probability of self-location in a world with a given set of outcomes is the absolute square of that world's amplitude. We provide a proof of this postulate, which assumes the quantum formalism and two principles concerning symmetry and locality. We also show how a structurally similar proof of the Born rule is available for collapse theories. We conclude by comparing our account to the recent account offered by Sebens and Carroll.
Recommended Citation
McQueen, K.J., and L. Vaidman. 2019. In defence of the self-location uncertainty account of probability in the many-worlds interpretation. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 66, 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2018.10.003
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
Elsevier
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, volume 6, in 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsb.2018.10.003
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