Is reality probabalistic because quantum mechanics increases our predictive power?

Question

Which science do we choose as 'the one' that gets nature, reality, and the universe right in an essential, and not merely symptomatic way?

Answer 1

Physics...well, science really...is about discovery, not choice. You don't "choose" a reality. Our current technological level limits how precisely we can define physics, for the moment at least.

Your question, however, is quite valid, as the various camps within physics argue the same point: is quantum mechanics directly representative of reality, or merely a mathematical representation that happens to exactly match experimental results for reasons we've yet to discover? Even Einstein was quoted as saying he did not believe that God "played dice" with the universe.

Regardless, you cannot deny quantum mechanic's predictive powers, as you use your cell phones, microwave ovens, and browse the latest pictures of black holes out there.

Like religion, science is riddled with philosophies. We don't yet know all of the answers, but we intently seek them. All philosophy aside, however, one thing is clear: reality is not at all what we would intuitively assume it to be. Have patience. When it comes to HOW and WHY the universe exists, how all of creation came to be, discovering the workings of the mind of God will not come overnight.

Answer 2

We don't get to know that we've got it right. That's where science differs from religions that include "divine revelation." God does not suddenly appear, clap the scientist on the back, and say "Congratulations, you've finally got it right."

What we can say is that this theory or that is highly successful. The fact that quantum mechanics is probabilistic doesn't necessarily mean the universe is -- read Kant on the difference between phenomena and noumena. As good as quantum theory is, there are still unanswered questions, and there's always the search for the Theory of Everything that will unify quantum theory with relativity. Currently m-theory is a good candidate, but confirmation is hard to come by, and there are other alternatives.

There's an epistemological problem with your question, too. In order for us to choose the theory that "gets the universe right," we'd have to KNOW what's right already. We choose theories for other reasons -- simplicity, beauty, predictive power. There are even social aspects. Check out Thomas Kuhn's classic "Structure of Scientific Revolutions" and Peter Berger's "The Social Construction of Reality.

Answer 3

The one that accepts things non-physical as proof.
Quantum mechanics, as we understand it, really helps explain how things really are. That all exists in a probability field until we interact with it. As we are on a certain path so we will be able to more effectively predict what our choices will be, that's a given.
A turn here eliminates certain probabilities and a turn there makes some become more probable.
The effect of interaction, what we focus on, leads to an actual event here in physical reality.

Answer 4

philosophy.

Everything happens for a reason and everything is guided towards a central goodness. So long as you understand and realize these concepts, what else more do you need in life other than true happiness?

Answer 5

The short answer to the first question is "yes," but I am happy to endorse keenu's answer, and give it a thumb's up.

Answer 6

Yes. The answer to "which science do we use" is Freudian psychology.