Polycosmic interpretation of quantum theorics

The polycosmic interpretation of quantum theorics is a way of speaking about quantum phenomena that takes the Polycosm (many-cosmos framework) as literal. In this view, multiple cosmi (parallel worlds) already exist; before a measurement, nearby cosmi can interfere with one another, and after the interaction they diverge and cease to influence each other. It is presented as an alternative vocabulary to the one often taught to novices that invokes superposition and collapse. Within Theorics (abstract theoretical study), many theors (theoretical scholars) regard it as a coherent model for organizing thinking about quantum effects.

Context and first mention

In a dialog between Fraa Orolo and Erasmas, Orolo explicitly prefers polycosmic terms and asks that ideas about mind and perception be restated in this language. He characterizes older classroom phrasing as the "fid version" (fid: novice student) that speaks of superposition and wavefunction collapse, while the polycosmic framing speaks of already-existing alternate cosmi that exhibit interference until an interaction separates their futures.

Key ideas

• Pre-existence and interference: For a binary outcome (e.g., a particle with two possible spins), the interpretation holds that both corresponding cosmi exist prior to observation and interfere slightly, producing measurable effects; after an observation, those cosmi become causally independent.
• No collapse needed: Instead of a single system in superposition, there are many really existing cosmi; selecting an outcome is just being in one of those cosmi rather than collapsing a wavefunction.
• Modeling and thought: Applied to cognition, Orolo suggests that the brain need not maintain an immense configurable internal model; rather, versions of a brain in many nearby cosmi are knit together by interference, allowing a person to draw on the polycosm to evaluate alternatives.
• Counterfactual cosmi: The model encourages talk of hypothetical nearby cosmi differing slightly from the one a person occupies, which can be evaluated for plausibility by considering how interference would play out.

Related notions and examples

• Saunt Grod’s Machines are described as syntactic devices that use quantum theorics to examine many possibilities at once (illustrated by the Lazy Peregrin route-finding problem). In polycosmic terms, this is naturally understood as parallel computations across cosmi that are then read out by an interaction.
• Some theors debate its plausibility, but Orolo notes that many eventually adopt the polycosmic vocabulary because the alternatives strike them as less satisfactory.

Relationships and affiliations

• Advocates/usage: Fraa Orolo is explicitly partial to the polycosmic framing and mentally translates older terminology into it; Erasmas is able to restate arguments in this language during their dialog.
• Related reading: See also Plurality of Worlds: a Comparative Study of Polycosmic Ideation among the Halikaarnians for survey and comparison of polycosmic ideas.

Current status

Presented as a live interpretive framework within Theorics, with different orders and teachers preferring different vocabularies. It is actively used as a way to discuss quantum effects and to frame ideas about mind and perception; no consensus is implied.