Journal article
How many thoughts are there? Or why we likely have no Tegmark duplicates m away
Philosophical studies, v 163(1), pp 133-149
2013
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Physicist Max Tegmark argues that if there are infinite universes or sub-universes, we will encounter our exact duplicates infinite times, the nearest within
m. Tegmark assumes Humean supervenience and a finite number of possible combinations of elementary quantum states. This paper argues on the contrary that Tegmark’s argument fails to hold if possible thoughts, persons, and life histories are all infinite in number. Are there infinite thoughts we could possibly think? This paper will show that there are. If so, then it is not only Tegmark’s specific claim about our duplication that is called into question. We additionally acquire another strong argument against Humean supervenience.
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Details
- Title
- How many thoughts are there? Or why we likely have no Tegmark duplicates m away
- Creators
- Douglas V. Porpora - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Philosophical studies, v 163(1), pp 133-149
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Communication
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000316392700015
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84875061081
- Other Identifier
- 991019169417804721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Philosophy