School #10

Multiverse Theory

Everett, Tegmark

Multiverse Theory suggests that there are multiple, perhaps infinite, universes that exist in parallel with our own. Each universe may have different laws of physics and constants.

I. Time

Extent Infinite
Ontological Status Substantival
Grain Continuous
Freedom Non-Deterministic
Traversability Branching
Dimensionality N
Direction Multi-directional

Time is substantival and infinite — it extends across an infinite ensemble of parallel universes. Time's traversability is branching: at every quantum event, the timeline splits into divergent branches, each equally real. Direction is multi-directional across the multiverse as a whole, even if each individual branch experiences uni-directional flow. Time is continuous and N-dimensional when the full landscape of branching timelines is considered.

II. Space

Extent Infinite
Ontological Status Substantival
Curvature Curved
Dimensionality N
Locality Non-local

Space is substantival, infinite, and curved — it encompasses the totality of parallel universes, each potentially with different spatial geometries and physical constants. Space is non-local: quantum entanglement connects spatially separated regions, and the multiverse itself may have extra spatial dimensions beyond the three we observe.

III. Matter

Extent Infinite
Ontological Status Substantival
Conservation Conserved
Dimensionality N
Locality Non-local

Matter is substantival and infinite across the multiverse — each branch contains its own material configuration, and the total amount of matter across all branches is unlimited. Conservation holds within each branch but need not hold across the multiverse as a whole. Matter is non-local: entanglement and branching connect material states across separated regions of the multiverse.

IV. Observer

Time Instance Multiple
Space Instance Multiple
Extent of Knowledge Immediate
Retainment of Knowledge Immediate
Physicality Embodied
Agency Passive
Number Plural
Time Instance: Multiple — across parallel universes, observer-instances may exist across many different temporal configurations simultaneously
Space Instance: Multiple — different versions of the observer may occupy different locations across different universes
Extent of Knowledge: Immediate — within any single universe, the observer's knowledge is limited to that universe's accessible phenomena
Retainment of Knowledge: Immediate — each version of the observer retains only the knowledge accumulated in their specific branch of the multiverse

V. Energy

Extent Infinite
Ontological Status Substantival
Conservation Non-conserved
Dispersibility Reversible

Energy is substantival and infinite across the multiverse — each quantum branching event creates new branches with their own energy budgets. Conservation is non-conserved globally because new branches continuously come into existence. Dispersibility is reversible in the sense that every possible energy configuration is realized somewhere in the multiverse.

VI. Information

Ontological Status Substantival
Conservation Conserved
Granularity Discrete

Information is conserved across the multiverse — every quantum branching preserves all information. It is discrete because quantum events create distinct branches, each encoding a definite informational outcome.

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