The Extended Wigner’s Friend, Many-and Single-Worlds and Reasoning from Observation

Foundations of Physics 55 (2):1-31 (2025)
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Abstract

The concept of an isolated system, and Frauchiger and Renner’s extended ‘Wigner’s friend’ scenario are discussed. It is argued that: (i) it is questionable whether the approximation of the isolated system is valid when measurement-like processes are involved; (ii) one may infer, from Frauchiger and Renner’s thought-experiment, and similar thought-experiments, that any interpretation of quantum theory involving subjective collapse fails; (iii) this does not distinguish single-world from many-world (relative-state) interpretations of quantum theory; (iv) reasoning from observations has to take into account the possible quantum-erasure of those observations if it is to be valid reasoning; (v) a single-world interpretation is valid if certain kinds of outcome are not quantum-erased in the future.

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Quantum Theory and the Limits of Objectivity.Richard Healey - 2018 - Foundations of Physics 48 (11):1568-1589.
Why decoherence has not solved the measurement problem: a response to P.W. Anderson.Stephen L. Adler - 2003 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 34 (1):135-142.

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