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Letter: Wrapping our minds around the pluriverse (2)

Published 8 April 2026

From Sam Edge, Ringwood, Hampshire, UK

Your article on “the pluriverse” was interesting, but I’m not convinced. In particular, if Qbists and enactivists propose that the universe arises as a result of all the living or agentic observers in it, the question then is: what was going on before there were any? The article hints at extending the scope of agency to pre- and maybe even non-biotic entities to deal with this, but then we’re in a very fuzzy place bordering on paganism or shamanism, where everything – trees, rocks, rivers, stars – has its own agency or genius loci. At this point, “observer” loses all meaning, and so provides no testable utility.

Issue no. 3590 published 11 April 2026

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