Anthropic interpretation of quantum theory

TL;DR

This paper proposes an interpretation of quantum theory that embraces subjective reality and uses an entropy-based weighting scheme to define objective probabilities, offering a new perspective on large-scale quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to quantum interpretation by applying an entropy principle to weight Hilbert subspaces, moving beyond traditional objective or deterministic frameworks.

Findings

Objective reality is redefined as subjective in quantum theory.

An entropy principle can effectively weight Hilbert subspaces.

The approach offers a new way to interpret quantum phenomena on cosmological scales.

Abstract

The problem of interpreting quantum theory on a large (e.g. cosmological) scale has been commonly conceived as a search for objective reality in a framework that is fundamentally probabilistic. The Everett programme attempts to evade the issue by the reintroduction of determinism at the global level of a ``state vector of the universe''. The present approach is based on the recognition that, like determinism, objective reality is an unrealistic objective. It is shown how an objective theory of an essentially subjective reality can be set up using an appropriately weighted probability measure on the relevant set of Hilbert subspaces. It is suggested that an entropy principle (superseding the weak anthropic principle) should be used to provide the weighting that is needed.