Infinite parallel universes
I'm not a religious person. I'm agnostic and look at religion and spiritualism from very far, as a curiosity in the humanities.
That said, one thing I believe is more likely than not is the infinite parallel universe theory. The theory that there's an unending amount of parallel universes which contain a lot of the possible states of the universe at all times.
Now i don't believe they necessarily have to contain every state. An infinite set of numbers does not have to contain every number, after all.
However as I'm sitting in a hospital bed after the second worst near death experience in my life, I'm reminded of that theory.
I remember that theory whenever I look at the world and think "huh, I could have died there". A slip in the shower, a small electric shock, a car coming too close. I didn't die, but in very slightly different circumstances I could have. When these things happen I think of my life, my friends, my mom. I especially think about the versions of them in the parallel universes I believe exist.
I make a lot of choices based on this. It's a type of fatalism: I'm not so much worried about death here, as I am afraid about the consequences of it in the universes it does happen.
In other words, I often get sad for the parallel universe versions of my mom. there's a lot of problems with this overall theory, but I can't quite shake it.
What makes you think that you exist in any other parallel universe?
You seem to be anthropomorphizing the concept, which is common amongst sci fi fiction, but has no scientific basis.
Parallel universes could have different physical constants such as quark masses.
Just achieving life on earth in the current state is a set of extremely unlikely coincidences, one on top of another.
You have millions of ancestors. The chances that you exist in any other universe is astronomically low.
If there is another you in another universe, chances are they are not making any of the same decisions you are making right now.
You might be interested in this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation
Oh it's very interesting.
Thank you.
Does probability have much meaning in the context of infinity?
If we can communicate with parallel universes, then I would think yes.
If we can't communicate with parallel universes, that it's all kind of moot, isnt it?
Can I ask what makes you believe this? What do you think the difference between this and religion is?
Also, how do you make choices based on this? Fatalism typically implies that your choices don't matter that much.
I don't think there's a specific difference between this and religion, other than this is not what people usually call religion. That is why I tagged this thread spiritualism.
As for what makes me believe it, I've heard convincing arguments by respected scientists that it's not a completely out-of-this-world crazy theory at least on some levels. I'm still in the hospital right now but I'll be happy to elaborate and provide sources when I get out.
Fatalism is not an ideal world for it. Fatalists as they say still look before crossing so there is on some level some contradictions there. My view is that across all those universes, my choices don't matter much because I'm as likely not to make them in another.
I still do make the choices because I want to be in the subset of universes in which, should the things which are out of my hands go bad, the things I do control are all good. An example is always keeping my affairs in order, using Google's inactivity detection, and being a good person in general, as best I can.
In other words, an unprovable theory about the universe that hopefully keeps me on the right path. A religion yes ;) I just don't base it on a book.
But if you believe that there is only one universe you'd also want to make good choices since the result will be the reality you'll live in.
Of course! Maybe "good" choices wasn't the right word. More about choices that may only matter outside of this experience.
If you think about it it's pretty similar to making choices that don't matter now, but you believe will matter in a future reincarnated life or something. Except that I don't do it for my own benefit, but by empathy towards the people I love -- at least, some versions of them.
I'm not @Adys, but they're not just pulling this idea out of thin air. The "many worlds interpretation" is actually a credible hypothesis in quantum physics.
At the lowest possible levels, our universe appears to be random: particles decay randomly, particles appear randomly, and so on. At the macro level, the world follows cause and effect, but at the quantum level, things happen randomly.
The idea of the many-worlds interpretation is that everything that can possibly happen... does. Every action which has two or more possible outcomes will result in all possible outcomes. Each outcome produces a new universe which branches off from its predecessors. At a macro level, if you are trying to decide whether to wear a white shirt or a blue shirt to work... you will do both. Two universes will be created from the moment you make your decision: one universe in which you wore the white shirt, and one universe in which you the blue shirt. At a quantum level, every random particle activity which can result in multiple outcomes will result in all possible outcomes. If a particle could decay or not decay... both will happen. Two universes will be created: one universe in which the particle decayed, and one universe in which it did not decay.
According to this hypothesis, there are an infinite number of universes around us, with the multiverse containing all possible outcomes of all possible decisions and activities. So, there is a universe in which Adys survived their brush with death, and a universe in which Adys did not survive their brush with death - and we happen to be in the universe in which Adys survived. Meanwhile, an alternate @iiv and an alternate Algernon are in another universe where this post never happened, and are doing something else.
It's a valid hypothesis in physics and philosophy.
There are other multiverse theories as well, but Adys is specifically referring to the many-worlds interpretation where new universes are created at each decision/activity point.
But how do you make decisions based on the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics? If you believe that every decision you make results in multiple universes - one where you choose A and one where you choose B - how does that influence your decisions? If you know that you're going to choose both A and B, what's the point of choosing one or the other? The other choice will still be made in another universe. You're not protecting your mother - some other version of her is still going to face the consequences of your other choice.
How does this influence your decision-making process?
I think it's because I feel a stronger tie to the subset of universes in which my decisions are the same as I've taken her, even though other unrelated decisions may not be.
It surely sounds silly because I have no tie to any of them no matter how far removed they are from this one. But I still am able to empathize more strongly with the versions of me and my friends and family from those. Does that make sense?
No, it doesn't make sense.
Well... sort of. But the only sense I can make from this is that you feel comfortable with the decisions you already made in this universe because you live in the universe where these particular decisions were made: you are the "you" who chose these options, rather than the "you" who chose the other options.
But that doesn't tell me how this "infinite parallel universes" idea influences your future decisions. How do you decide right now whether to take Option A or Option B based on the idea that you know you're going to choose both? If you know that, in one hour, there'll be two of you, one of whom chose Option A and one of whom chose Option B... how do you decide whether to be the version of Adys who chooses Option A or the version of Adys who chooses Option B? And what's the difference anyway, if you're both versions of you, making both choices?
To me, this seems like a justification for coin-tossing. "I'm going to choose both options, so it doesn't matter which decision I make. I might as well toss a coin to go through the motions of making the decision, just so both options get chosen by the fact of me choosing one of them."
I think about this sometimes, but the net effect is that I think it curbs some of my riskier behaviors. That time I decided to scale the outer ledge of a building, ghost-busters style? That's probably one of my biggest ones where now I'm like, especially considering a couple of the other variables which were in play... Wowwww dude.
Realistically there's nothing you can do about the past, let alone alternate potential pasts~ It's something to think about in a fun way, but not something to dwell on. It just serves as an additional excuse to think about the potential consequences of whatever you're doing, so a net positive.
Oh -- I was also going to drop this on you, since it sounds like new things to do might be welcome during your down time. http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/show/rs101-max-tegmark-on-the-mathematical-universe-hypothesis.html
Thanks for the link! I'll check it out once the drugs wear off :D
What evidence do you have to support this? All science has told us so far is we don't know of any reason why it couldn't be true. This is precisely the same amount of scientific evidence for a deity or reincarnation.
It's an interesting thought experiment, but basing decisions on a belief like that in my eyes is as insane as people basing decisions on ancient religious books.e
If I had called it a gut feeling, would basing decisions on it be any worse or better?
To be clear it's not like I let this mindset drive my life. It's just factored in to my choices.
I don't think basing decisions on fiction is particularly bad either. People base a lot of decisions on something they saw work in a movie. As for religion, "going to church" or "praying" is something you do because a book, in a roundabout way, told you to. I'd it especially insane? Is it more insane than going to a board game night to entertain yourself?
PS: I'm a little peeved right now because I think this is what determines tolerance and intolerance. The ability to live and let live when things you disagree with are harmless. Now if you told me about antivax, anti-gay, anti abortion rights, circumcision, all kinds of harmful shit produced by religion and cults, now we can talk about insanity.
I can think something is insane while still tolerating it and not trying to prevent someone from doing it. The magnitude of the effects of the insanity are not what make it insane, though they are necessary to convince me to do something about it (such as my voting habits when it comes to antivax).
There is a complete and fundamental difference between choosing to spend your time praying (where you feel like you've done what's necessary to avoid burning in hell when you die) and playing a board game (where presumably you enjoy it). From the latter, you get a tangible, measurable positive effect. From the former, you get nothing unless hell exists. What else could you have spent your time doing? What measurable benefit could you have gained for yourself in that time that you've given up based on the insanity that is belief without evidence? From a simple cost benefit analysis it's insanity.
Have you considered some people enjoy praying?
And there's a lot of reasons people pray. To find comfort, find answers, show gratitude, ask for help. Sometimes (often) just done for the ritual. I grew up in a religious family and I can't say I ever prayed to avoid hell or any divine punishment. There are absolutely times when I was laying alone in bed as a kid where some noise spooked me and prayed for comfort. Praying isn't without tangible value for the people that believe it.