i have this philosophy class and the teacher gave us an extra credit opportunity to find an example of any situation where there is no "chance" involved in the outcome...card games dont count because u can mathematically figure out you probablility of winnin gjust like in the lotto...so if u have anyother ideas please pass them along to me thanks...
2006-09-23 07:38:50 · 6 answers · asked by NICOLE 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Actually, if our current theories of quantum mechanics hold true, then there is NO situation (at least, not in this universe) where chance can't be involved in the outcome. Sounds like your teacher knows what they're talking about. :)
2006-09-23 07:41:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No chance implies absolute determinism. Whether a relationship is deterministic or probabilistic is a matter of uncertainty. In fact, one definition of deterministic outcomes is when we specify P(o) = 1.00; the probability of outcome o is identically one.
So if there is even a remote hint of uncertainty in any specified relationship, there is chance and that relationship is probabilistic no matter how rare the outcome might be. Having said that, there have to be reasonable bounds put on such remote chances. Clearly, for example, within reasonable bounds of human experience, the sun coming up (even though we may not see it) next morning is deterministic. It will come up.
Sure we can go through the mind exercise of saying "but what if..." yatta yatta yatta. But deep in our heart of hearts, we know the sun will rise each morning.
So if your teacher wants to be purist...everything is chancey. But within the bounds of real experience, things like the sun rising next morning have to be considered deterministic.
2006-09-23 08:15:51 · answer #2 · answered by oldprof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To the skydiving example, you could hit a plane, or better yet, a rocket, and go out to space, never htting the ground.
For the car, you could get in a car accident and never have to gas up again since your car is totaled.
According to quantum mechanics everything is described by a wavefunction. When you square this wavefunction, you get a probability distribution. And probabilities are always chances, so there's always a chance.
2006-09-23 07:50:41 · answer #3 · answered by anonymous_20003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any situation?
How about sky diving: regardless of what happens up there, you're gonna hit the ground.
Or driving: there is no chance that you won't eventually, be required to get more gas.
2006-09-23 07:46:56 · answer #4 · answered by driids 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mary Jo Sweetwater will agree to go to the prom with me this year.
2006-09-23 08:01:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will die ...
2006-09-23 07:42:33 · answer #6 · answered by deep.blue62 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋