Quantum Parallelism Thesis, Many World Interpretation and Physical Information Thesis

Philosophies 1 (1):102--110 (2015)
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to address a particular interpretation of quantum computational processes, namely, the so called Many World Interpretation. I will show that if such an interpretation is supported by the Quantum Parallelism Thesis and the Physical Information Thesis at the same time, then it falls under circularity. I will suggest, in fact, that as long as this variation states both PIT and QPT cannot furnish a physical explanation of the latter unless it is already stating the truth of MWI. This specific case suggests the more general conclusion that MWI and other accounts of quantum computational processes instill very different concepts of information. I will show that the concept instilled by MWI advocates is too abstract in order to be a reliable source for a physical interpretation of quantum computational processes. I will nevertheless then suggest that MWI is not completely useless for our understanding of quantum computation.

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Giacomo Lini
Universität Stuttgart

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References found in this work

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The Physical Church–Turing Thesis: Modest or Bold?Gualtiero Piccinini - 2011 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 62 (4):733-769.
Apart from Universes.David Deutsch - 2010 - In Simon Saunders, Jonathan Barrett, Adrian Kent & David Wallace (eds.), Many Worlds?: Everett, Quantum Theory, & Reality. Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press UK. pp. 542--552.
A quantum computer only needs one universe.A. M. Steane - 2003 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 34 (3):469-478.
Quantum Computation from a Quantum Logical Perspective.Jeffrey Bub - forthcoming - Philosophical Explorations.

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