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CSflim · 02-05-2004, 05:21 AM

The correct answer:

If physics is deterministic (non-random) then everything in the world is deterministic.
Think of a computer. Everything on that is following strict deterministic rules (by definition). We can observe things on the computer that appear to be random...e.g. card games, etc.
These things are not random. They are pseudo-random. A very unpredictable algorithm is used to generate this apparent randomness. Our inability to predict things does not make them random. Deterministic physical laws imply no real randomness.

But are the laws of physics actually deterministic? The current scientific attitude is that they are not, and that randomness is in fact inherrent in the quantum mechanical laws of reality. Some dispute this and claim that this apparent randomness is only pseudo randomness, and that the randomness results only from our inability to measure all the required variables.

So the answer to your question "is there randomness?" is: That depends on whether quantum randomness is real randomness or apparent randomness.

02-05-2004, 05:21 AM	#33 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	The correct answer: If physics is deterministic (non-random) then everything in the world is deterministic. Think of a computer. Everything on that is following strict deterministic rules (by definition). We can observe things on the computer that appear to be random...e.g. card games, etc. These things are not random. They are pseudo-random. A very unpredictable algorithm is used to generate this apparent randomness. Our inability to predict things does not make them random. Deterministic physical laws imply no real randomness. But are the laws of physics actually deterministic? The current scientific attitude is that they are not, and that randomness is in fact inherrent in the quantum mechanical laws of reality. Some dispute this and claim that this apparent randomness is only pseudo randomness, and that the randomness results only from our inability to measure all the required variables. So the answer to your question "is there randomness?" is: That depends on whether quantum randomness is real randomness or apparent randomness. __________________ Last edited by CSflim; 02-05-2004 at 05:23 AM..