Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Deutsch argues that the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is not a speculative add‑on but the only viable explanation of reality.
In plain terms
Parallel universes solve quantum puzzles rather than create new problems.
What can you take from it?
Consider the many‑worlds view when evaluating quantum theories.

Where it applies

  • physics research
  • philosophical debate

Putting it to work

  • modeling quantum systems
  • teaching quantum theory

Questions to consider

  • What evidence would convince you of many‑worlds?
  • Can a theory be a solution if it is untestable?

Another view

Many‑worlds remains controversial and lacks direct experimental proof.

More from David Deutsch

  1. The overwhelming majority of theories are rejected because they contain bad explanations, not because they fail experimental tests.

    Permalink to quote #4
  2. Reality contains not only evidence, but also the means (such as our minds, and our artefacts) of understanding it. There are mathematical symbols in physical r…

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. The truly privileged theories are not the ones referring to any particular scale of size or complexity, nor the ones situated at any particular level of the pr…

    Permalink to quote #3

Related quotes

  1. I just want to explain what I mean when I say that we should try to hold on to physical reality. We are ... all aware of the situation regarding what will turn…

    Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein quote #73
  2. The more precise the measurement of position, the more imprecise the measurement of momentum, and vice versa. In the most extreme case, absolute precision of o…

    Werner HeisenbergWerner Heisenberg quote #1
  3. Theoretical physicists live in a classical world, looking out into a quantum-mechanical world. The latter we describe only subjectively, in terms of procedures…

    John Stewart BellJohn Stewart Bell quote #1