Quote:
Originally posted by The_Dude
as for the coin, it will appear random, but if we went to the minutest detaill, we'll be able to predict it.
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In a mathematical model, yes. In real life, measurement errors would be overwhelm the precision needed to rig a fair coin toss or a fair die roll.
Reality is too big by several dozen orders of magnitude for determination (or even pre-destination) to exist on a micro-scale (one individual's actions). Randomness not only exists in reality, it rules reality with an iron fist.
Example? Predict the weather on March 4 (one month from now) given the current conditions.
Even if you had every possible measurement from all over the globe measured to a hyper-fine precision, you still could only produce a probability chart of the possible outcomes even that near in the future.
Why do meteorologist stop measuring at 1/10 of a degree? Because the expense of more-precise thermometers (eg, 1/100 degree precision) adds nothing to the accuracy of forecasts; the money is better spent on more measurements than better measurements because more datapoints contributes far more to good forecasts than does precise datapoints.
In order to have an accurate prediction, you'd have to have a planet with a perfectly regular surface covered in nothing but weatherstations and the planet orbiting a perfectly predictable star. On Earth, these are impossible to achieve, and thus randomness rules.