Sensible Quantum Mechanics: Are Only Perceptions Probabilistic?

TL;DR

Sensible Quantum Mechanics (SQM) proposes a non-probabilistic formulation of quantum mechanics where perceptions are the only probabilistic elements, interpreted through frequency measures of conscious experiences, challenging traditional notions of quantum indeterminism.

Contribution

This paper introduces SQM, a novel framework where perceptions are probabilistic but the underlying quantum state is deterministic, offering a new perspective on consciousness and quantum theory.

Findings

Perceptions are associated with measures derived from quantum states.

SQM predicts typicalities of perceptions that can be tested experimentally.

Proposes an experimental test to distinguish SQM from its variants.

Abstract

Quantum mechanics may be formulated as Sensible Quantum Mechanics (SQM) so that it contains nothing probabilistic, except, in a certain frequency sense, conscious perceptions. Sets of these perceptions can be deterministically realized with measures given by expectation values of positive-operator-valued awareness operators in a quantum state of the universe which never jumps or collapses. Ratios of the measures for these sets of perceptions can be interpreted as frequency-type probabilities for many actually existing sets rather than as propensities for potentialities to be actualized, so there is nothing indeterministic in SQM. These frequency-type probabilities generally cannot be given by the ordinary quantum "probabilities" for a single set of alternatives. Probabilism, or ascribing probabilities to unconscious aspects of the world, may be seen to be an aesthemamorphic myth. No fundamental correlation or equivalence is postulated between different perceptions (each being the entirety of a single conscious experience and thus not in direct contact with any other), so SQM, a variant of Everett's "many-worlds" framework, is a "many-perceptions" framework but not a "many-minds" framework. Different detailed SQM theories may be tested against experienced perceptions by the typicalities (defined herein) they predict for these perceptions. One may adopt the Conditional Aesthemic Principle: among the set of all conscious perceptions, our perceptions are likely to be typical. An experimental test is proposed to compare SQM with a variant, SQMn.