The post would be much better if a definition of “possible world” was given. When giving definitions, perhaps to define what does “real” precisely mean would be beneficial.
More or less, I interpret “reality” as all things which can be observed. “Possible”, in my language”, is something which I can imagine and which doesn’t contradict facts that I already know. This is somewhat subjective definition, but possibility obviously depends subjective knowledge. I have flipped a coin. Before I have looked at the result, it was possible that it came up heads. After I have looked at it, it’s clear that it came up tails, heads are impossible.
Needless to say, people rarely imagine whole worlds. Rather, they use the word “possible” when speculating about unknow parts of this world. Which may be confusing, since our intuitive understanding of the word doesn’t match its use.
Even if defined somehow objectively (as e.g. possible world is any world isomorphic to a formal system with properties X), it seems almost obvious that real world(s) and possible worlds are different categories. If not, there is no need to have distinct names for them.
So before creating theories about what probability means, I suggest we unite the language. These things have been discussed here already several times, but I don’t think there is a consensus in interpretation of “possible”, “real”, “world”, “arbitrary”. And, after all, I am not sure whether “probability” even should be interpreted using these terms. It almost feels like “probability” is a more fundamental term than “possible” or “arbitrary”.
I must admit that I am biased against “possible worlds” and similar phrases, because they tend to appear mostly in theological and philosophical discussions, whose rather empty conclusions are dissatisfactory. I am afraid of lack of guidelines strong enough to keep thinking in limits of rationality.
The post would be much better if a definition of “possible world” was given. When giving definitions, perhaps to define what does “real” precisely mean would be beneficial.
More or less, I interpret “reality” as all things which can be observed. “Possible”, in my language”, is something which I can imagine and which doesn’t contradict facts that I already know. This is somewhat subjective definition, but possibility obviously depends subjective knowledge. I have flipped a coin. Before I have looked at the result, it was possible that it came up heads. After I have looked at it, it’s clear that it came up tails, heads are impossible.
Needless to say, people rarely imagine whole worlds. Rather, they use the word “possible” when speculating about unknow parts of this world. Which may be confusing, since our intuitive understanding of the word doesn’t match its use.
Even if defined somehow objectively (as e.g. possible world is any world isomorphic to a formal system with properties X), it seems almost obvious that real world(s) and possible worlds are different categories. If not, there is no need to have distinct names for them.
So before creating theories about what probability means, I suggest we unite the language. These things have been discussed here already several times, but I don’t think there is a consensus in interpretation of “possible”, “real”, “world”, “arbitrary”. And, after all, I am not sure whether “probability” even should be interpreted using these terms. It almost feels like “probability” is a more fundamental term than “possible” or “arbitrary”.
I must admit that I am biased against “possible worlds” and similar phrases, because they tend to appear mostly in theological and philosophical discussions, whose rather empty conclusions are dissatisfactory. I am afraid of lack of guidelines strong enough to keep thinking in limits of rationality.