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This Oxford Seminar features Ray Pedersen discussing Everettian quantum mechanics (EQM) and addressing the problem of ontological extravagance. Explore how EQM, while attractive for not requiring collapse postulates or hidden variables, faces criticism for its apparent multitude of worlds where every possible quantum outcome is realized. Discover Pedersen's careful articulation of this objection by distinguishing between ontological abundance (number of concrete objects) and postulate abundance (complexity of theoretical postulates). Learn about an alternative evaluative criterion based on how closely a theory aligns with the way the world appears to be, specifically using classical mechanics as a reference point for the "manifest image." Understand how this "classical divergence" criterion might offer Everettians a path toward developing a less extravagant ontology while maintaining the theory's explanatory power. The seminar, presented at Oxford on March 27, 2025, provides valuable insights into ongoing debates about realist interpretations of quantum mechanics.
