What the Hell is a Multiverse and Why Do I Care?

Posted By Cliff Tuttle | June 28, 2011

No. 639

I can’t seem to get away from that word.  But what does it mean?

According to Wikipedia, the multiverse is a “hypothetical set of multiple possible universes (including the historical universe we consistently experience) that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that surround them.” Well, that was helpful.

This must be a very new idea, right?  After all, we haven’t heard too much of this sort of thing until lately, right? Well, not exactly.  Wikipedia says the term was coined by William James, the American philosopher and psychologist from Harvard was it?, in 1895.  [Not a typo.] But as you read on, you begin to realize that you have heard a lot of this before — like maybe, Plato, Budhha, Douglas Adams?

Enough already!  Why do I care?

Well, it appears that there is a blog called Law and the Multiverse written by, written by.  Come to think of it, it doesn’t say who writes it.

This blog addresses  deep and enduring legal questions you won’t seriously encounter in this universe. For example, when was the last time you read an article on how Rico statutes could be used against supervillain organizations? My point exactly.

After having read some of this bewildering but entertaining stuff , I have discovered that we all carry our own multiverse around in our head.  In a flash I can summon a world where I walk off a tall building and live, am eaten by a bengal tiger or anything else I choose. My multiverse, my rules.

CLT

Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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