The Simulation Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

[Negativebeef]

It seems like every argument in favor of the Simulation Hypothesis revolves around the strangeness of Quantum Mechanics. So can the Simulation Interpretation be just as valid of an interpretation as Copenhagen or Many Worlds? If not why not?

 

[Nugatory]

All interpretations make the same predictions, so there is no experiment that can tell us that one is more or less valid than another. So yes, the simulation hypothesis is as valid as any other.

But because all interpretations are equally valid and say the same thing, there's little point in arguing about their relative merits. None of them make the strangeness of quantum mechanics go away, they just push it around. So you can choose whichever one you find most palatable, you can even choose to apply different interpretations to different problems, and the appropriate response to the statement "Simulation hypothesis is valid" is a big yawn and a "so what".

 

[Demystifier]

Leaving aside the potential merits, what exactly the simulation interpretation of quantum mechanics is?

 

[p764rds]

The Schrödinger Equation gives a superposition of states in which a 'particle' travels as a wave or particle.
This is inconsistent with classic logic - how can it be both?

In Simulation Hypothesis particle or photon travel resembles a render-on-demand type of scenario used in video production, where the particle would only exhibit wave-like or particle-like behaviour when asked to do so by a colliding photon or other particle. Otherwise it is 'not there' rather merely a calculation or algorithm behind the scenes.

So when traveling there is nothing that is actually 'there', a state-decoherence takes places only on-demand, i.e. when a photon asks, if you will, by colliding. Much more efficient that way - why should the universe dispaly every particle all the time? Its similar as in plain old video processing methods :)

The Blackhole hologram theories provide some clue to where the processing is maybe being done, but at present that theory is not complete.
(see my many earlier entanglement posts)

 

[PeterDonis]

the Simulation Interpretation

In Simulation Hypothesis

Can either of you provide an actual reference (textbook or peer-reviewed paper)?

 

[vanhees71]

Hm, peer-reviewed papers tend to be reviewed by scientists, as the name "peer-reviewed" suggests. Thus I hope, there won't be such a paper the OPs can point to ;-)). SCNR.