Ahh, still with us then?
Criteria don't satisfy theories, you have that reversed.
I presume you mean that multiverse theories have no evidential support which would satisfy my definition of scientific evidence?
If so then it depends which multiverse theory you mean.
The Everett Many World theory - true. There is no testable data or prediction arising from MW that I can think of. In fact it is not so much a theory as an interpretation. What I mean by that is that Quantum physics has one particular part - the 'collapse of the wavefunction' which is just not ontologically understood at all - ie we can't say what it actually means, even though the theory works, makes testable predictions and is very accurate.
There are a couple of alternatives in such a situation. You can do what the Copenhagen people did - say 'look, there is no deeper meaning, this is just what happens, so looking deeper for some explanation is futile, just accept the maths, accept it works, and stop trying to describe what it means'.
Now I KNOW that you would not find that satisfactory, but believe it or not neither do many physicists. One possible alternative is that there is no wavefunction collapse (ie a transition from many possibilities to one certainty). Instead every possibility actually happens - but they all happen in different 'worlds' which are completely isolated from each other.
Now, can you test this? Not currently using any method I can think of. Is it therefore a valid theory? No, it is simply one possible interpretation of the underlying theory which we know is sound.
So, in simple terms, ignore Everett's interpretation if you like - it doesn't really matter - the physics will still give you the correct answer everytime.
On the other hand, if you mean other multiverse theories then you will have to specify which one you mean and I will attempt to tell you whether it is testable or not.
PS - did you watch the Feynman video series I dug out for you? I do hope so. I'd hate to feel I wasted my time searching them out for you.
PPS - I should say, for the sake of completeness, that there IS a way of testing Everett's Many World Theory. (I call it a theory here because a test is proposed).
The problem is that it is a bit extreme. The experimental protocol would be very similar to the Schroedinger's Cat thought experiment, as follows:
1. Rig-up a small photon detector capable of determining the spin of a photon. (Spin is a quantum number which is similar to but not the same as what you would normally understand the word to mean - rotating around an axis. All photons have spin value 1 but the direction can be one of two possibilities)
2. Attach an electrical activator to the output of the spin detector and to a lethal weapon. The weapon must be sure to kill a person quickly and reliably, so a bomb, though a bit messy, would do the trick. Alternatively a suitable firearm would also do if correctly aligned and loaded.
3. Set set the activator such that any photon spinning in one direction is ignored whilst a photon of opposite spin triggers the device.
4. The experimenter now takes up position such that the weapon is targetted correctly on him/her.
5. Start the detector.
Now, if Many World is correct, the experimenter will be fine. The bomb will not explode or the gun will not fire as far as he/she is concerned - ever.
Everyone else in world 1 would see a boom or a bang and a dead experimenter, but the interpretation means that the experimenter duplicates into a separate world everytime a photon is collected and so would notice no break or discontinuity, but would carry on existing in a manner which to them would seem quite normal, even though they were dying in one world and continuing in another.
This is also, by the way, why your notion of 'gaps' between universes doesn't really make sense. The different worlds exist in what is called a superpositional state - in exactly the same way that particles exist in a superpositional state until the wavefunction collapses. In one sense they exist at every point and in another they exist at no point. There is no suitable analogy because there is no common experience.
Anyway - that is the test - the quantum suicide test. Do you feel strongly enough to volunteer? After all, if you are right you have everything to gain and nothing to loose. If the theory is wrong and you die then it was surely a moral death - advancing knowledge at personal cost is certainly a moral act. So you get eternity in heaven - what could be nicer?
Alternatively, if the theory is right and you survive then you have lost nothing.
PPPS - If my suspicion that you are a dispensationalist is correct then this experiment is actually prophesied in scripture and you absolutely MUST take part to fullfil the prophecy.
Revelation 2:10-11 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
It could NOT be clearer. You will be on the point of death at the start of the experiment. The Crown of life means Many Worlds is indeed correct and you will live, even though your first body dies. The second death is that death of the body in Word 2, and obviously you will not be hurt because consciousness continues into world 3.
What more convincing could you need? Can I tell the Uni to start preparing?
Edited by Bikerman, : To add a proposed experimental test of MW
Edited by Bikerman, : No reason given.
Edited by Bikerman, : No reason given.
Edited by Bikerman, : No reason given.
Edited by Bikerman, : No reason given.
™ Version 4.2
(1)