Theory of Local Optimism

 Theory of Local Optimism         

 

This theory assumes that there are many possible worlds; most are virtual, not lasting long enough to be observed; a few last long enough to be observed, and are called real. Real worlds are local optima; they are the best of all sufficiently similar possible worlds.

The Theory of Local Optimism says that this is the best of all sufficiently similar possible worlds. This is similar to Leibnitz's Optimism, which states that this is the best of all possible worlds.

Leibnitz, co-inventor of the calculus, no doubt knew well the difference between global and local optima; I am puzzled as to why he did not come up with local optimism; for then he would have avoided being mocked by Voltaire. (So this is the best of all possible worlds that includes the Lisbon earthquake.) But perhaps the multiverse was not to his taste.

Local optimization is a proven principle in physics and biology. Its mathematics imply these Consequences of Local Optimism:

 

There may be many local optima, some better than ours, some worse. (This leaves open the question as to what value is being locally optimized.)

Any path from one local optimum to another must at first decline.

Any path from one local optimum to another must meet a Path Pessimum; the worst of all possible worlds along the path.

A world ceases to be real when an ascending path appears, leading to a sufficiently different real world.