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MarieMarie--Laure RyanLaure RyanFrom Parallel Universes to Possible Worlds: From Parallel Universes to Possible Worlds:

Ontological Pluralism in Physics and Ontological Pluralism in Physics and NarratologyNarratology

Marie-L

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Level 1 Parallel UniversesLevel 1 Parallel Universes

�� Contained in same Contained in same spacetimespacetime as our as our universeuniverse

�� Formed by different or similar Formed by different or similar arrangements of particlesarrangements of particles

�� Follow the same laws of physicsFollow the same laws of physics

Level 2 Parallel UniversesLevel 2 Parallel Universes

�� Formed by bursting of space bubbles Formed by bursting of space bubbles or black holesor black holes

�� Exist in embedded Exist in embedded spacetimespacetime

�� Follow the same laws of physics but Follow the same laws of physics but with different constantswith different constants

Marie-L

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Level 4 Parallel UniversesLevel 4 Parallel Universes

�� Correspond to all mathematically Correspond to all mathematically describable structuresdescribable structures

�� Do not exist in space and timeDo not exist in space and time

�� Follow different laws of physicsFollow different laws of physics

Level 3 Parallel UniversesLevel 3 Parallel Universes

�� Postulated as an explanation of Postulated as an explanation of quantum phenomenaquantum phenomena

�� Do not require any change in the laws Do not require any change in the laws of physicsof physics

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The TwoThe Two--Slits experimentSlits experiment

The two slits experiment:The two slits experiment:expected particle patternexpected particle pattern

Marie-L

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The two slits experiment:The two slits experiment:observed wave patternobserved wave pattern

Possible Worlds in Narrative Possible Worlds in Narrative TheoryTheory

�� Proponents: Umberto Eco, Thomas Proponents: Umberto Eco, Thomas PavelPavel, , LubomLubomíírr DoleDoležželel, Ruth , Ruth RonenRonen, Marie, Marie--Laure Laure RyanRyan

�� Inspiration: modal logic (analytic Inspiration: modal logic (analytic philosophy): Saul philosophy): Saul KripkeKripke, Nicholas , Nicholas RescherRescher, Alvin , Alvin PlantingaPlantinga, David Lewis, David Lewis

Marie-L

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Modal realismModal realism

David Lewis David Lewis Is a philosopher who isIs a philosopher who isCrazy enough to insistCrazy enough to insist

That all logically possible worlds actually existThat all logically possible worlds actually exist

----Armand T. RingerArmand T. Ringer

The indexical conception of The indexical conception of actualityactuality

““The actual worldThe actual world”” means means ““the the world in which I am locatedworld in which I am located””. . Its reference varies with the Its reference varies with the speaker. All possible worlds speaker. All possible worlds are actual from the point of are actual from the point of

view of their inhabitantsview of their inhabitants

Marie-Laure Ryan (KITP 3-03-05) Talk: From Parallel Universes to Possible Worlds: Ontological Plurality in Physics and.. Page 7

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Marie-L

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PW theory diagramming of PW theory diagramming of multiversemultiversenarrativenarrative

Jorge Luis BorgesJorge Luis Borges’’ vision of the vision of the multiversemultiverse narrativenarrative

�� In all fictional works, each time a man is In all fictional works, each time a man is confronted with several alternatives, he confronted with several alternatives, he chooses one and eliminates the others; in chooses one and eliminates the others; in the fiction of the fiction of TsTs’’uiui PênPên, he chooses, he chooses——simultaneouslysimultaneously——all of them. Heall of them. He creates, in creates, in this way, diverse futures, diverse times this way, diverse futures, diverse times which themselves also proliferate and fork. which themselves also proliferate and fork. ……In the work of In the work of TsTs’’uiui PênPên, all possible , all possible outcomes occur; each one is the point of outcomes occur; each one is the point of departure for other departure for other forkingsforkings. .

Marie-L

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Alternative interpretations for Alternative interpretations for branching storiesbranching stories

�� MentalismMentalism: It: It’’s all a dreams all a dream

�� VirtualismVirtualism: Only one fork is actual: Only one fork is actual

�� Allegory and metaphor: Purpose of Allegory and metaphor: Purpose of multiples branches is to illustrate an ideamultiples branches is to illustrate an idea

�� MetaMeta--textualismtextualism: Branches are drafts of a : Branches are drafts of a novel, not actual eventsnovel, not actual events

Some types of narrative that create Some types of narrative that create a a multiversemultiverse cosmologycosmology

�� Black hole narratives: Black hole narratives: Chronicles of Chronicles of NarniaNarnia(C.S. Lewis), (C.S. Lewis), Jack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk

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““Black holeBlack hole”” narrativenarrative

Some types of narrative that create Some types of narrative that create a a multiversemultiverse cosmologycosmology

�� Black hole narratives: Black hole narratives: Chronicles of Chronicles of NarniaNarnia(C.S. Lewis), (C.S. Lewis), Jack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk

�� MetalepticMetaleptic narratives: narratives: The The KugelmassKugelmassEpisodeEpisode (Woody Allen), (Woody Allen), PleasantvillePleasantville(movie)(movie)

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Narrative stackNarrative stack

Some types of narrative that create Some types of narrative that create a a multiversemultiverse cosmologycosmology

�� Black hole narratives: Black hole narratives: Chronicles of Chronicles of NarniaNarnia (C.S. (C.S. Lewis), Lewis), Jack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk

�� MetalepticMetaleptic narratives: narratives: The The KugelmassKugelmass EpisodeEpisode(Woody Allen), (Woody Allen), PleasantvillePleasantville (movie)(movie)

�� Science fiction stories that show counterparts of Science fiction stories that show counterparts of the same individual in different worlds: the same individual in different worlds: The The Lathe of HeavenLathe of Heaven (Ursula K. Le (Ursula K. Le GuinGuin))

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Counterpart relations in narrativeCounterpart relations in narrative

Comparing Many Worlds Interpretation of Comparing Many Worlds Interpretation of Physics and Possible Worlds Theory in Physics and Possible Worlds Theory in

NarratologyNarratology

�� Indexical theory of actualityIndexical theory of actuality: : narratologynarratology supports it, physics is supports it, physics is indifferent to itindifferent to it

�� Modal realismModal realism: physics supports it, : physics supports it, narratologynarratology is indifferent to itis indifferent to it