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The '''Ultimate Ensemble''' or '''mathematical universe hypothesis''' ('''MUH''') is a speculative [[theory of everything]] (TOE), suggested by [[Max Tegmark]]. Related to the [[Anthropic principle]] and [[Multiverse (science)|Multiverse]] theories, the Ultimate Ensemble suggests that not only should worlds corresponding to different sets of initial conditions or different physical constants be considered real, but also worlds ruled by altogether different equations. The only postulate in this theory is that all structures that exist mathematically exist also physically. The Ultimate Ensemble |
The '''Ultimate Ensemble''' or '''mathematical universe hypothesis''' ('''MUH''') is a speculative [[theory of everything]] (TOE), suggested by [[Max Tegmark]]<ref>M. Tegmark, "Is 'the theory of everything' merely the ultimate ensemble theory?" [http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9704009 arxiv:gr-qc/9704009]</ref>. Related to the [[Anthropic principle]] and [[Multiverse (science)|Multiverse]] theories, the Ultimate Ensemble suggests that not only should worlds corresponding to different sets of initial conditions or different physical constants be considered real, but also worlds ruled by altogether different equations. The only postulate in this theory is that all structures that exist mathematically exist also physically. |
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The Ultimate Ensemble can be considered a physico-mathematical expression of the philosophy known as [[modal realism]]. |
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Tegmark claims that the MUH is a theory with no free parameters, which is not observationally ruled out, and therefore is preferred over all other TOE's by [[Occam's Razor]]. He envisages consciousness as occurring in the form of "self-aware substructures" of mathematical structures, which he claims will subjectively perceive themselves as existing in a physically "real" world. |
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In those mathematical structures complex enough to contain self-aware substructures (SASs), these SASs will subjectively perceive themselves as existing in a physically "real" world. Tegmark observes that this simple theory, which has no free parameters at all and may thus be preferred over all other TOE's by [[Occam's Razor]], is not observationally ruled out. |
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The MUH, like other multiverse theories, has been widely criticized by physicists, on many grounds. These include that it lacks a properly defined prior distribution over structures <ref>J. Schmidhuber, "Algorithmic Theories of Everything", [http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0011122 arxiv:quant-ph/0011122]</ref>, has no predictive power <ref>W. R. Stoeger, G. F. R. Ellis, U. Kirchner, "Multiverses and Cosmology: Philosophical Issues" [http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0407329 arxiv:astro-ph/0407329]</ref>, has problems with Godel's theorem <ref>P. Hut, M. Alford, M. Tegmark "On Math, Matter and Mind", [http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0510188 arxiv:physics/0510188]</ref> <ref>A. Vilenkin "Many Worlds in One: The Search for Other Universes", Hill and Wang, New York 2006</ref>, is self-contradictory because one cannot subsume all possible (partly contradictory) mathematical structures into one structure <ref>D. Page "Predictions and Tests of Multiverse Theories", [http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0610101 arxiv:hep-th/0610101]</ref>. |
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Tegmark responds to some of these critiques in |
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<ref>M. Tegmark, "The Mathematical Universe" [http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.0646 arxiv:0704.0646]</ref>, |
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where the Ultimate Ensemble is formalized as the "Level IV Multiverse". |
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The Ultimate Ensemble can be considered a physico-mathematical expression of the philosophy known as [[modal realism]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://space.mit.edu/home/tegmark/toe_frames.html Which mathematical structure is isomorphic to our Universe?]- Max Tegmark's paper published in ''[[New Scientist]]''. |
* [http://space.mit.edu/home/tegmark/toe_frames.html Which mathematical structure is isomorphic to our Universe?]- Max Tegmark's paper published in ''[[New Scientist]]''. |
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* {{Cite arXiv| author=Max Tegmark| eprint=gr-qc/9704009| title=Is "the theory of everything" merely the ultimate ensemble theory?| year=1997| version=v2| accessdate=2007-09-27}} |
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* [http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0704/0704.0646v1.pdf The mathematical universe] - at arxiv.org |
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*[http://www.weidai.com/everything.html The 'Everything' mailing list (and archives), A "discussion of the idea that all possible universes exist".] |
*[http://www.weidai.com/everything.html The 'Everything' mailing list (and archives), A "discussion of the idea that all possible universes exist".] |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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[[Category:Quantum gravity]] |
[[Category:Quantum gravity]] |
Revision as of 22:41, 18 December 2007
The Ultimate Ensemble or mathematical universe hypothesis (MUH) is a speculative theory of everything (TOE), suggested by Max Tegmark[1]. Related to the Anthropic principle and Multiverse theories, the Ultimate Ensemble suggests that not only should worlds corresponding to different sets of initial conditions or different physical constants be considered real, but also worlds ruled by altogether different equations. The only postulate in this theory is that all structures that exist mathematically exist also physically. The Ultimate Ensemble can be considered a physico-mathematical expression of the philosophy known as modal realism.
Tegmark claims that the MUH is a theory with no free parameters, which is not observationally ruled out, and therefore is preferred over all other TOE's by Occam's Razor. He envisages consciousness as occurring in the form of "self-aware substructures" of mathematical structures, which he claims will subjectively perceive themselves as existing in a physically "real" world.
The MUH, like other multiverse theories, has been widely criticized by physicists, on many grounds. These include that it lacks a properly defined prior distribution over structures [2], has no predictive power [3], has problems with Godel's theorem [4] [5], is self-contradictory because one cannot subsume all possible (partly contradictory) mathematical structures into one structure [6].
Tegmark responds to some of these critiques in [7], where the Ultimate Ensemble is formalized as the "Level IV Multiverse".
See also
External links
- Which mathematical structure is isomorphic to our Universe?- Max Tegmark's paper published in New Scientist.
- The 'Everything' mailing list (and archives), A "discussion of the idea that all possible universes exist".
References
- ^ M. Tegmark, "Is 'the theory of everything' merely the ultimate ensemble theory?" arxiv:gr-qc/9704009
- ^ J. Schmidhuber, "Algorithmic Theories of Everything", arxiv:quant-ph/0011122
- ^ W. R. Stoeger, G. F. R. Ellis, U. Kirchner, "Multiverses and Cosmology: Philosophical Issues" arxiv:astro-ph/0407329
- ^ P. Hut, M. Alford, M. Tegmark "On Math, Matter and Mind", arxiv:physics/0510188
- ^ A. Vilenkin "Many Worlds in One: The Search for Other Universes", Hill and Wang, New York 2006
- ^ D. Page "Predictions and Tests of Multiverse Theories", arxiv:hep-th/0610101
- ^ M. Tegmark, "The Mathematical Universe" arxiv:0704.0646