A density matrix is how in quantum mechanics we talk about situations where there is not a pure wave function for a system. Sandro Stuckey says, I wonder about the ontological status of density matrices in Mad Dog Aberedianism. Does it matter from a realist stance if we cannot distinguish different distributions of pure states that correspond to the same density matrix? Yeah, the answer is I don't know. I'm not even sure if it matters. Having said that, once you pick an answer to that question, you would certainly be perfectly legitimate in having an eternalist view of time. It's just that the transitions from the state of the universe from one moment to the
Welcome to the July 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.
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Blog post with questions and transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2023/07/03/ama-july-2023/
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