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Work #891 · Early

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

Hugh Everett III
1957 (Reviews of Modern Physics) · English
Physics paper · Mid-twentieth-century foundations of quantum mechanics

Everett's 1957 paper founding the many-worlds (relative-state) interpretation of quantum mechanics

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics (Early)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Non-Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Non-Local
Observer · Time Instance Multiple
Observer · Space Instance Multiple
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Partial
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Reversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

The unitary time of the universal wave function.

Space

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

The branching space of many worlds.

Matter

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

The wave function as physical reality.

Observer

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

The observer entangled with the system, branching into multiple relative states.

Energy

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

Energies of the universal wave function.

Information

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

The branching information of the universal state.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Relative State Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

Everett's Relative State Formulation: founding paper of the many-worlds interpretation; central reference for foundations-of-quantum-mechanics debate.