Adam
Assuming there is a multiverse that is.
Answer
Hi Adam,
Short answer: Yes, within a multiverse, each individual universe exists whether or not there are conscious beings embedded within it.
Argument 1 â Our Universe
Consciousness is an emergent property of sophisticated algorithms executing on complex, highly interconnected, physical substrate networks â in our case, minds arising from living brains. Such biochemical networks require complex molecules built from complex atoms. Such atoms can only be synthesised by nuclear fusion processes in stars, all of which takes a lot of cosmological time. So until second generation solar systems had formed and had had sufficient time for conscious beings to evolve, our own universe lacked for conscious beings embedded within it. But it would be illogical to declare our universe as non-existent during the preceding, necessary, inorganic cosmic evolution from the Big Bang (through recombination, dark ages, first generation stars) to the first emergence of the first conscious beings.
Arguement 2 â Purpose of a Multiverse
Often one of the reasons to posit a multiverse is as an answer to our universeâs âfine-tuningâ problem â why certain universal fundamental physical constants lie within a very narrow range, such that if any of several fundamental constants were only slightly different the universe would be unlikely to be conducive to the establishment and development of matter, astronomical structures, elemental diversity, or life as it is presently understood. The purpose of the other universes is that they are the ones where those fundamental constants are NOT conducive to the evolutionary emergence of conscious beings. So those perpetually lifeless universes MUST exist without embedded conscious beings to serve their explanatory purpose.
I wonder if you are confusing the emphasis placed on the role of âthe observerâ (a conscious being) in the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics in the decoherence of superposition states, with the necessity of embedded conscious beings for a universe to be considered to be in existence.
My most mind-expanding encounter with multiverse speculations came in the form of a book which I highly recommend:
⢠âThe Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmosâ, by Prof. Brian Greene, 2011
â âAn in-depth yet marvelously accessible look inside the perplexing world of modern theoretical physics and cosmology . . . Greene presents a lucid, intriguing, and triumphantly understandable state-of-the-art look at the universe.â ~ review, âPublishers Weeklyâ
» about â http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hidden_Reality:_Parallel_Universes_and_the_Deep_Laws_of_the_Cosmos
Hope thatâs broadened your understanding, and given you a pointer for further exploration,
Share and Enjoy, Peace-&-Love, Dalinian â â â® â¥ ê¨ â»
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
...__o....Cycling is the most energy efficient form of transport ever invented, easy,
._ \<,_...fast, healthy exercise, improves self-esteem, & on-going use of a bicycle has
(_)/ .(_)..virtually NO carbon footprint ⫸ http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/benefits.htm
â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶
A folding bike travels with you inside trains, planes, & automobiles (& on the bus,
tram, taxi, subway, ship, helicopter) ⫸ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding_bicycle
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
PS: further to the PS of Ultraviolet Oasis (this webpage)... I think perhaps itâs necessary to raise the other age-old zen question:
⢠If a man is alone in a forest, and he has an opinion, is he still wrong?
Hi Adam,
Short answer: Yes, within a multiverse, each individual universe exists whether or not there are conscious beings embedded within it.
Argument 1 â Our Universe
Consciousness is an emergent property of sophisticated algorithms executing on complex, highly interconnected, physical substrate networks â in our case, minds arising from living brains. Such biochemical networks require complex molecules built from complex atoms. Such atoms can only be synthesised by nuclear fusion processes in stars, all of which takes a lot of cosmological time. So until second generation solar systems had formed and had had sufficient time for conscious beings to evolve, our own universe lacked for conscious beings embedded within it. But it would be illogical to declare our universe as non-existent during the preceding, necessary, inorganic cosmic evolution from the Big Bang (through recombination, dark ages, first generation stars) to the first emergence of the first conscious beings.
Arguement 2 â Purpose of a Multiverse
Often one of the reasons to posit a multiverse is as an answer to our universeâs âfine-tuningâ problem â why certain universal fundamental physical constants lie within a very narrow range, such that if any of several fundamental constants were only slightly different the universe would be unlikely to be conducive to the establishment and development of matter, astronomical structures, elemental diversity, or life as it is presently understood. The purpose of the other universes is that they are the ones where those fundamental constants are NOT conducive to the evolutionary emergence of conscious beings. So those perpetually lifeless universes MUST exist without embedded conscious beings to serve their explanatory purpose.
I wonder if you are confusing the emphasis placed on the role of âthe observerâ (a conscious being) in the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics in the decoherence of superposition states, with the necessity of embedded conscious beings for a universe to be considered to be in existence.
My most mind-expanding encounter with multiverse speculations came in the form of a book which I highly recommend:
⢠âThe Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmosâ, by Prof. Brian Greene, 2011
â âAn in-depth yet marvelously accessible look inside the perplexing world of modern theoretical physics and cosmology . . . Greene presents a lucid, intriguing, and triumphantly understandable state-of-the-art look at the universe.â ~ review, âPublishers Weeklyâ
» about â http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hidden_Reality:_Parallel_Universes_and_the_Deep_Laws_of_the_Cosmos
Hope thatâs broadened your understanding, and given you a pointer for further exploration,
Share and Enjoy, Peace-&-Love, Dalinian â â â® â¥ ê¨ â»
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
...__o....Cycling is the most energy efficient form of transport ever invented, easy,
._ \<,_...fast, healthy exercise, improves self-esteem, & on-going use of a bicycle has
(_)/ .(_)..virtually NO carbon footprint ⫸ http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/benefits.htm
â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶â¶
A folding bike travels with you inside trains, planes, & automobiles (& on the bus,
tram, taxi, subway, ship, helicopter) ⫸ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding_bicycle
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
PS: further to the PS of Ultraviolet Oasis (this webpage)... I think perhaps itâs necessary to raise the other age-old zen question:
⢠If a man is alone in a forest, and he has an opinion, is he still wrong?
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