Can all events be determined but unpredictable in principle?

Answer 1

If one stretches their mind, it can be possible.
My feeling is all the POSSIBILITIES may be predetermined, but WE ultimately pick the possibilities within our control. Fate is determined by everyone else PLUS the events beyond ANY of our control.....but the importance of your input to the overall "continuum" is VAST...just by virtue of the fact that YOU caused THAT event to happen in that way...and, once past, it becomes part of the fabric of the cosmos.

Answer 2

The way I see it, the rules of causation can't coexist with free will. Since it obvious that one thing causes another to happen, I think events are determined by their sufficient causes. But we humans don't have the ability to learn all the sufficient causes. To fill in the areas of ignorance, we have a concept of free will, of choice and decision making. Though illusionary, I think the concept of free will is what makes us able to function in an inherently ignorant state.

So my answer to your question is yes. Event are determined but they seem unpredictable when we are ignorant of the causes.

Answer 3

Stephen Hawkings said something like - "We probably don't have free will, but we wouldn't notice any difference if we did."

If you knew the exact starting conditions of the Universe, you MIGHT be able to predict the exact conditions of the Universe at any given time - assuming that we DON'T have Free Will.

However, if we DO have Free Will, then the exact conditions of the Universe become unpredictable at some level, because someone's previous decision messed up everything after that.

Answer 4

althought it seem in contradiction with each other it is possible for the two to coexist. the creator of life, as the ultimate authority over the physical plane of existence, knows all, and has the capacity to control all within our reasoning. the all knowing creator is outside of our own frame of reference. he is outside time and space, therefore, like a perfect chess player, he has the ability to understand how his moves affect the rest of the game. this comes as a paradox to us because we lack the capacity to look from an astrological frame of reference. he is the creator, he knows us better than ourselves, and he understands the ripple effect caused by our feelings, thoughts, and actions. all existence is interrelated because of this, the influences on our lives tracing back to the point where god spoke the universe into existence. he knew the consequences of creation, therefore, we think and act freely because of his absolutely perfect design. god is outside time and space, he is the creator, it is possible.