quantum physics & freedom v. determinism
i am also intrigued by Quantum Physics and what it’s discoveries imply about our reality. melon collie (in his comment on my previous post) is correct that scientists can most easily explain the activity of sub-atomic particles using matrices of probability; for any given experiment it is not possible to predict the exact outcome, but after a while you see that the outcomes are not random, but follow a specific pattern of distribution.
now, what this means for the metaphysical argument of freedom v. determinism is still unclear. melon collie is saying that the fact that there is uncertainty implies that there is freedom inherent in the decision. i’m not so sure that quantum physics could be used to prove either a free or a deterministic reality.
meet Max. Max has a decision to make. quantum physics can best describe Max’s range of options using a probability matrix. at the end of the day, however, Max will only make ONE decision. quantum physicists seem to be saying that the decision will be completely random, but will fall within the matrix of probabilities. i have trouble believing that this choice is random. if it is, then one might easily conclude that life is meaningless! so let’s put that aside and assume that the choice is not random. if it’s not random, then was the choice pre-determined or chosen out of free will? we are back to the original question!
it doesn’t seem that quantum physics can help us with this metaphysical question, but it does tell us one thing; if we do live in a “free” reality, this freedom seems to be constrained by a pattern of distribution. if an outcome has a zero percent probability to occur, no amount of “freedom” will make it occur!
(it is also necessary to remember that quantum physics, to date at least, is only applicable at the sub-atomic level. when scientists view the world at a more macro level, Einstein’s theory of relativity still reigns supreme. perhaps String Theory will be able to collapse this divide and give us further insight into our reality ...)
now, what this means for the metaphysical argument of freedom v. determinism is still unclear. melon collie is saying that the fact that there is uncertainty implies that there is freedom inherent in the decision. i’m not so sure that quantum physics could be used to prove either a free or a deterministic reality.
meet Max. Max has a decision to make. quantum physics can best describe Max’s range of options using a probability matrix. at the end of the day, however, Max will only make ONE decision. quantum physicists seem to be saying that the decision will be completely random, but will fall within the matrix of probabilities. i have trouble believing that this choice is random. if it is, then one might easily conclude that life is meaningless! so let’s put that aside and assume that the choice is not random. if it’s not random, then was the choice pre-determined or chosen out of free will? we are back to the original question!
it doesn’t seem that quantum physics can help us with this metaphysical question, but it does tell us one thing; if we do live in a “free” reality, this freedom seems to be constrained by a pattern of distribution. if an outcome has a zero percent probability to occur, no amount of “freedom” will make it occur!
(it is also necessary to remember that quantum physics, to date at least, is only applicable at the sub-atomic level. when scientists view the world at a more macro level, Einstein’s theory of relativity still reigns supreme. perhaps String Theory will be able to collapse this divide and give us further insight into our reality ...)
posited by hereis nowhy at 16:38
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