Determinism Is Self Defeating

[Zen Badger]

On the matter of a rock falling down a hill

When a rock falls down a hill, there's only one question that needs to be asked in order to determine whether or not we could feasibly predict its path and final destination. And that question is:-

Does the rock obey the laws of physics?

If the answer is "yes", then our ability to predict its path relies solely on our ability to recreate the environment perfectly. If we can, then we can predict the rock's path.

And when I say "perfectly" I really do mean perfectly. If we had a model of the hill at a molecular level, allowing for humidity, air convection and every other item that is controlled by the laws of physics... there is no feasible reason why we couldn't then predict everything that then happens.

If we can't do that, then there is a problem with our method of recording the details, or our computational model.

We could always simplify everything, predicting the path of a dropped ball down a level ramp in an airless chamber. If your argument is one of complexity, then I'd inquire just when (exactly) determinism fails.

If you don't accept all of the above, then I have a simple question for you:-

What is governing the direction of the rock/ball other than the laws of physics? The gentle blowing of a deity? An angel gently flapping its wings? A leprechaun farting?

Just what, exactly, are you proposing if not the material world and (with enough knowledge and computational skills) predictable mechanisms?



"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke (third law of prediction)

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Oh, and you'd best be careful when using the word "random". Do you know how difficult a concept randomness is? Do you know how a computer generates a random number? Hint: it isn't random.

Let me reiterate for the slow of comprehension.(I'm typing slowly so you can keep up)

Until such a time as you can make predictions that are 100% accurate then determinism is merely a hypothesis.

Do not equate evolution with determinism. They are not even in the same ballpark when it comes to evidence.