On 1/28/2013 4:22 PM, meekerdb wrote:
Hi,
I think this paper might be fodder for a nice discussion!
http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.5295
About the Infinite Repetition of Histories in Space
Francisco José Soler Gil
<http://arxiv.org/find/physics/1/au:+Gil_F/0/1/0/all/0/1>,Manuel
Alfonseca <http://arxiv.org/find/physics/1/au:+Alfonseca_M/0/1/0/all/0/1>
(Submitted on 22 Jan 2013 (v1 <http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.5295v1>),
last revised 23 Jan 2013 (this version, v2))
This paper analyzes two different proposals, one by Ellis and
Brundrit, based on classical relativistic cosmology, the other by
Garriga and Vilenkin, based on the DH interpretation of quantum
mechanics, both of which conclude that, in an infinite universe,
planets and living beings must be repeated an infinite number of
times. We point to some possible shortcomings in the arguments of
these authors. We conclude that the idea of an infinite
repetition of histories in space cannot be considered strictly
speaking a consequence of current physics and cosmology. Such
ideas should be seen rather as examples of {\guillemotleft}ironic
science{\guillemotright} in the terminology of John Horgan.
The idea that there are infinitely many universe (or an infinitely big
one) and therefore everything must be repeated infinitely many times
is incoherent. If there's a copy of this universe, then it *IS* this
universe by Leibniz's identity of indiscernibles. Similarly, if this
universe is infinitely large it must have infinitely many different
possible states - otherwise it would start repeating somewhere and, as
I remarked above, a repeat is just the same thing double counted. So
what makes sense is to say the universe (whether conceived as
spacetime or as a Hilbert space) is unbounded, it can always get
bigger and have more states - which seems to be supported by the
expansion of the universe.
Brent
--
Hi Brent,
I agree, but we also have to count those universes that are
conformally isomorphic as Leibniz equivalent as well, which identifies
all the different sized versions of a given universe.
--
Onward!
Stephen
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