Everett's interpretation of the equations of quantum mechanics postulates that every time a sub-atomic particle splits in two the
universe itself splits in two. The popular upshot of this theory is that every
time the physical universe reaches a pivot point, a place where history can turn
and continue in one of two directions, it doesn't choose one path over the
other, but actually follows both paths at the same time. Not only are all worlds
possible, all worlds actually exist.
There are worlds where I was never born. There are worlds where I was born, but died at an early age. There are worlds where the United States never existed. There are worlds where the United States existed, but the South won the Civil War. There are worlds where homo sapiens never developed as a species. There are worlds where life never developed on Earth at all. The are worlds where the earth never formed as a planet. There are worlds where the laws of physics have been complete reshuffled; where day is night and up is down and time moves in the opposite direction.
Think about it: infinite possibilities resulting in infinite worlds, each logically consistent with itself and each blissfully unaware of the the existence of any world outside of itself. This, of course, is the complete opposite of Leibniz' public philosophy which tells us that the world that currently exists is the only world that can possibly exist. I wonder what Herr Gottfried would think of quantum physics? He might understand the equations, but if the mathematical proof presented to him would suffice to change his public stance is rather doubtful. Of course, if all worlds exist, there's a time line somewhere where Leibniz has been presented with these equations and has changed his public philosophy accordingly.
Still, it's nice to think that somewhere out there there's a me that is actually happy with his life. Or is it? I'm actually kind of jealous of that version of me. Why did he or she (I could be a woman in that world, of course) get all the breaks? Why is he or she such a rip-roaring success when I'm still struggling? It isn't fair! Great, now I'm envious of myself. This is not a healthy development. . .
There are worlds where I was never born. There are worlds where I was born, but died at an early age. There are worlds where the United States never existed. There are worlds where the United States existed, but the South won the Civil War. There are worlds where homo sapiens never developed as a species. There are worlds where life never developed on Earth at all. The are worlds where the earth never formed as a planet. There are worlds where the laws of physics have been complete reshuffled; where day is night and up is down and time moves in the opposite direction.
Think about it: infinite possibilities resulting in infinite worlds, each logically consistent with itself and each blissfully unaware of the the existence of any world outside of itself. This, of course, is the complete opposite of Leibniz' public philosophy which tells us that the world that currently exists is the only world that can possibly exist. I wonder what Herr Gottfried would think of quantum physics? He might understand the equations, but if the mathematical proof presented to him would suffice to change his public stance is rather doubtful. Of course, if all worlds exist, there's a time line somewhere where Leibniz has been presented with these equations and has changed his public philosophy accordingly.
Still, it's nice to think that somewhere out there there's a me that is actually happy with his life. Or is it? I'm actually kind of jealous of that version of me. Why did he or she (I could be a woman in that world, of course) get all the breaks? Why is he or she such a rip-roaring success when I'm still struggling? It isn't fair! Great, now I'm envious of myself. This is not a healthy development. . .
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