Modes of experience in a superposed world

Abstract

A central open problem of quantum physics is to reconcile theory with experience. In this work I present a framework for studying distinct modes of experience in a superposed world. A modes of experience is characterized by how the world, experiences, and options relate to each other by the perceptions, decisions, and actions, as well as by probabilistic rules encoding probabilistic or deterministic correlations among first person experiences. In a toy model, the life expectancies of beings in different candidate modes of experience are compared. It is found that the quantum mode without macroscopic superposition outlives that with macroscopic superposition and that with real amplitudes. These highlight the prospect to explain a mode of experience by its evolutionary advantages.