The Importance of Downward Causation in Cosmology

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When we do cosmology, like when you're predicting the density perturbations in the cosmic microwave background, we're not doing quantum gravity. We don't really know the rules for quantum gravity in these circumstances. The other half-assed aspect is that what do we mean by quantum mechanics? Do we mean Copenhagen? Do wemean something else with hidden variables? And maybe, although I'm not really sure, maybe downward causation is a useful idea in a situation like that.

Welcome to the April 2023 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number — based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good — and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!

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