A Phenomenological Reading of the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

The Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics, the rendition of quantum mechanics discovered by theoretical physicist, Hugh Everett III, postulates a radical rendition of reality. MWI is an austere, unequivocal reading of the Schrodinger equation DeWitt calls “schizophrenia with a vengeance.”1 It starts from the premise “all physical processes whatsoever are governed by the Schrodinger equation,”2 then purposefully executes the formalism to let it freely say from itself what the universe is doing, which is: constantly splitting into a stupendous number of branches, all resulting from the measurement like interactions between its myriads of components. Moreover, every quantum transition, in every galaxy, in every star, in every remote corner of the universe is splitting our local world on earth into myriads of copies of itself.3 “Interpretation is an essential part of MWI.”4 The theory contains a discrete hermeneutical point of departure. It begins from a unified conception of reality that contrasts the apparently dualistic perspective assumed by the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, and stays the course of thinking it projects-open initially. The Copenhagen interpretation is considered the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics. “Many standard textbooks about quantum mechanics, and probably all popular-scientific treatments of the philosophy of quantum physics,” as Friebe notes, “come to stop at the Copenhagen interpretation.”5 MWI’s answer to