Some other thoughts about the MWI, that come to my mind after a bit more thinking:
Here is a version of the Schroedinger’s cat experiment that would let anyone to test the MWI for himself: Let us devise a quantum process that has 99 percent probability of releasing a nerve-gas in a room that kills humans without any pain. If I’d be really sure of the MWI, I would have no problems going into the room and press the button to start the experiment. In my own experience I would simply come out of the room unscratched for certain as it will be the only world I would experience. OTOH, if I really get out of the room as if nothing happened I could deduce with high probability that the MWI is correct. (If not: just repeat the experiment for a couple of times...)
I must admit, I am not really keen on doing the experiment. Why? Am I really so unconvinced about the MWI? What are my reasons not to perform it, even if I’d be 100% sure?
Another variation of the above line of thoght: assume that we are in 2020 and we say that since 2008, year after year, the Large Hadron Collider had all kind of random-looking technical defects that prevented it from performing the planned experiments in the 7Tv scale. Finally a physicist comes up with a convincing calculation showing that the probability that the collider will produce a black hole is much much higher than anticipated and the chances that the earth is destroyed are significant.
Would it be a convincing demonstration of the MWI? Even without the calculation, should we insist on trying to fix the LHC, if we experience the pattern of its breaking down for years?
Some other thoughts about the MWI, that come to my mind after a bit more thinking:
Here is a version of the Schroedinger’s cat experiment that would let anyone to test the MWI for himself: Let us devise a quantum process that has 99 percent probability of releasing a nerve-gas in a room that kills humans without any pain. If I’d be really sure of the MWI, I would have no problems going into the room and press the button to start the experiment. In my own experience I would simply come out of the room unscratched for certain as it will be the only world I would experience. OTOH, if I really get out of the room as if nothing happened I could deduce with high probability that the MWI is correct. (If not: just repeat the experiment for a couple of times...)
I must admit, I am not really keen on doing the experiment. Why? Am I really so unconvinced about the MWI? What are my reasons not to perform it, even if I’d be 100% sure?
Another variation of the above line of thoght: assume that we are in 2020 and we say that since 2008, year after year, the Large Hadron Collider had all kind of random-looking technical defects that prevented it from performing the planned experiments in the 7Tv scale. Finally a physicist comes up with a convincing calculation showing that the probability that the collider will produce a black hole is much much higher than anticipated and the chances that the earth is destroyed are significant.
Would it be a convincing demonstration of the MWI? Even without the calculation, should we insist on trying to fix the LHC, if we experience the pattern of its breaking down for years?
See also:
Wikipedia: quantum suicide
LW/OB: LHC failures