KARL
JASPERS
FORUM
TA91 (Müller)
Commentary
22
PARALLEL
UNIVERSES
AND THE MIND
by
Adhanom Andemicael
8
December 2007, posted 15 December 2007
<1> [Adhanom Andemicael]
When quantum theory
is applied to spacetime, the notion of "superspace" arises. Paul Davies discusses the concept of
superspace in his book *Other
Worlds.*
<2> [Paul
Davies; <http://deoxy.org/superspace.htm>]
The idea that the
world we observe might be a three-dimensional slice through, or projection of;
an infinite-dimensional superworld may be hard to
grasp. A humbler example of a projection may help.
Consider an illuminated screen used to project the silhouette
of a simple object, such as a knobbly potato. The image on
the screen gives a two-dimensional projection of what is really a
three-dimensional shape; i.e. the potato. By reorienting the potato, an infinite
variety of silhouette shapes can be obtained, each representing a different
projection from the larger space. Likewise, our observed
world is shaped as a projection from the superworld –
which projection being a matter of probability and statistics.
At first sight it might seem that reducing the world to a
sequence of random projections is a recipe for chaos, each successive moment
presenting our senses with a completely new panorama, but the dice are heavily
loaded in favour of the well- behaved, law-like Newtonian changes, so that the
jerky fluctuations, which undoubtedly exist, are safely buried among the
microscopic recesses of matter, only manifesting themselves on a subatomic
scale.
<3> [Adhanom Andemicael]
Let us suppose the
following: U1, U2, U3, etc. are parallel universes that exist in superspace. Adam is a person who lives in the universe U1.
He has a body in U1 that we can call
"b1."
<4>
Multiple copies of
Adam's body exist: U2 contains a copy that we can call "b2"; U3 contains a copy
that we can call "b3"; U4 contains a copy b4 – and so on.
<5>
There are many
copies of Adam's brain. But what about his mind ? How many copies are there of his
consciousness? I suggest that Adam has only one consciousness (i.e., one
mind).
CONSCIOUSNESS AND
PHYSICAL REALITY
<6>
Adam's mind (i.e.,
"M") observes a succession of *different* universes.(1) This seems to be the point that Paul
Davies is making in the two excerpts below:
<7> [Paul
Davies; <http://deoxy.org/superspace.htm>]
Quantum mechanics
implies that we must consider not one spacetime, but
an infinity of them, with different shapes and
topologies. These spacetimes all
fit together after the fashion of waves, each interfering with the
other. The strength of the wave is a measure of how probable
it is that a space of that particular shape is found to represent the actual
universe when an observation is made. The spaces will evolve,
such as when the universe expands, and the overwhelming number of these
alternative worlds will expand in a very similar way. Some of them, however,
fluctuate far from the main path, like the children in the park discussed in
connection with Figure 3. The wave strength in these maverick
worlds is very low, so there is only an infinitesimal chance that they will
actually be observed. Down at the scale of Jiffyland, these fluctuations become far more pronounced,
and random departures from smooth, unruffled space frequently
occur.
<8> [Paul
Davies; <http://deoxy.org/superspace.htm>]
... our observed world is shaped as a projection from the superworld – which projection being a matter of probability
and statistics. At first sight it might seem that reducing
the world to a sequence of random projections is a recipe for chaos, each
successive moment presenting our senses with a completely new panorama, but the
dice are heavily loaded in favour of the well- behaved, law-like Newtonian
changes, so that the jerky fluctuations, which undoubtedly exist, are safely
buried among the microscopic recesses of matter, only manifesting themselves on
a subatomic scale.
<9> [Adhanom Andemicael]
Adam's mind M
constantly changes universes.(2)
That is why he perceives a succession of *different*
worlds.(3) While it is moving from one universe to the next,
Adam's mind moves forward in physical time. M moves forward
through time at the rate of one day per day.
TIME
TRAVEL
<10>
Let us consider the
following time travel scenarios:
<11>
S1: Adam's mind
leaves the universe U1 on Jan. 1, 2000 AD. A moment later, his mind arrives in
the universe U2. The date of arrival in U2 is Jan. 1, 2010
AD.
<12>
S2: Adam's mind
leaves the universe U1 on Jan. 1, 2000 AD. A moment later,
his mind arrives in the universe U2. The date of arrival in
U2 is Jan. 1, 1990 AD.
<13>
Logical
inconsistencies arise when one travels back in time within the *same*
universe. Note however: In scenario S2, M travels into the past of a
*parallel* universe. No logical inconsistencies arise in this
scenario.
----------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
1. M observes more
than one universe.
2. Adam is unaware
that he is observing different universes. This is because the
different worlds he observes resemble one another.
3. When M observes
the universe U1, M experiences itself as existing inside the body b1. However,
when M observes the universe U2, M experiences itself as existing inside the
body b2.
Target Article 61 http://www.kjf.ca/61-TAAND.htm
http://home.att.net/~Andemicael/intro.html
----------------------------------------------------------
Adhanom Andemicael
e-mail <Andemicael (at) worldnet.att.net
>