Many Worlds Interpretation justifies Selfishness

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the implications of the Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics on moral philosophy, particularly regarding the value of actions and the concept of accountability in a multiverse scenario. Participants examine how MWI might influence ethical considerations and the perception of moral responsibility.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that MWI implies all possible actions occur in different universes, leading to a view where individual actions may not matter morally since they are just one branch of many.
  • Another participant argues that even in a deterministic universe, choices still affect the value of the universe, and harmful actions would lead to a worse outcome.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the validity of MWI and its implications for moral philosophy, indicating that they do not necessarily endorse or reject the interpretation.
  • There is a discussion about the concept of accountability, with one participant questioning the relevance of freedom of choice if all actions are realized in some universe.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential consequences of adopting a view that dismisses moral responsibility, suggesting it could lead to a society where cruelty is more prevalent.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of MWI for moral philosophy. There are competing views on whether MWI diminishes the importance of moral actions or if moral responsibility remains significant regardless of the interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding of quantum mechanics and MWI, which may influence their arguments. The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of the universe and morality that are not fully resolved.

TheDonk
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I wasn't sure where to put this thread because it is about moral philosophy but depends on your understanding of quantum mechanics. I'll try to keep quantum mechanics out of it and just explain what results from the Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of what's happening in quantum mechanics (QM).
I have to admit that I don't know very much about QM or the MWI so if I am wrong about anything I say about them, please correct me.

MWI states that whenever there are possibilities, all of them happen and the universe branches from it's current one into all possible new ones. We are only in one of these universes. I could say that we're in one where you choose to read this and another one exists where you didn't read this. But it isn't just every choice you make that branches, but every single particle that moves. There are MANY particles with MANY places to move per "frame" of the universe. What I'm trying to say is that every second there are an unimaginable amount of universes which are increasing exponentially. Since the universe started however long ago, there are virtually (if not literally) an infinite amount of universes where everything possible to happen did happen.

Here's the Value Theory part. Do I care about people in other universes? Let's assume I should. If everything possible to happen, does happen, then if I punch you in the face, I can say that I didn't in other universes. I can't even say that because I punched you in the face in this universe there was one more person punched in the face in all universes combined because I am just following the branch of a universe I chose (if we have choice). So now I can't change the "value of the universe" for the better or worse so I might as well do stuff that benefits me and have no cares whatsoever for anyone else.

The same thing could be said about an infinitely big universe or with branching universes from time travel.

I don't really have a question, but am just trying to start conversation, I guess.

BTW: You could say that morals no longer matter in these cases. If you believe in God you could use His existence to say that He wouldn't create this type of "multiverse" and say MWI, infinitely big universes, and branch-style time travel don't exist. But what if we had evidence for them? Does proving morals don't exist disprove God? I think most athiest still believe in morals, but this might be a direction to look into as proof against the existence of God.
 
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Why bring many worlds into it? Just say you are in the only world, which is deterministic, and all your actions are determined so you can't change the value of the universe in that case either. Fact is that your choice determines the value of the universe; if you choose to do harm, the value of the universe is worse, and if you choose not to do harm, the value of the universe is better. If everyone adopted your view on things, the universe would take a turn for the worse (as measured by most judgments of human value).
 
I don't know whether MWI is write or wrong or even believe in or am against it. I also didn't bring it into say that the good in the universe can be changed, but that it couldn't be changed.
 
I know that; I think you have misinterpreted me.
 
You're right, I did misinterpret what you said. I guess you might be able to add a deterministic universe to the other three universes that would have no morals. What I don't understand is when you said:
Bartholomew said:
If everyone adopted your view on things, the universe would take a turn for the worse (as measured by most judgments of human value).
 
TheDonk said:
Here's the Value Theory part. Do I care about people in other universes? Let's assume I should. If everything possible to happen, does happen, then if I punch you in the face, I can say that I didn't in other universes.

And if I don't punch you in the face, then there is certainly a universe wherein I did. So what? The concept of freedom of choice (which is really just the concept of being held accountable for your actions) already relies on the fact that you could have done such-and-such, but instead did such-and-such.
 
TheDonk said:
You're right, I did misinterpret what you said. I guess you might be able to add a deterministic universe to the other three universes that would have no morals. What I don't understand is when you said:
Bartholomew said:
If everyone adopted your view on things, the universe would take a turn for the worse (as measured by most judgments of human value).
If people adopted your view on things, then they would have no reason not to commit random acts of cruelty, so people would be worse off.
 

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