On Playing Gods: The Fallacy of the Many-Worlds Interpretation

Delve into a thought-provoking talk by Luis Cortés Barbado from IQOQI Vienna, presented as part of the Foundations of Physics @Harvard Seminar Series. Explore a methodological argument challenging the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum theory. Examine criticisms of MWI, including issues with probability accounts and ontological costs, before focusing on a more general and radical critique. Discover how a class of theories, exemplified by MWI, fails to meet basic tenets of science, termed "facts about natural science." Investigate the concept of the "holistic inference loop" and its incompatibility with scientific principles. Gain insights into why this fallacy renders MWI untenable and potentially refutable. Engage with this 1-hour 22-minute presentation to deepen your understanding of quantum theory interpretations and their philosophical implications.