2007-04-29 00:55:21 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This is my personal opinion, mind you.
The future can be said to be predetermined, since the current quantum configuration of all of the component particles in the universe have to lead to a particular chain of events. However, since no agency can exist, in the universe, able to read that configuration, in real time and extrapolate all of the necessary particle and energy interactions into the future, for all intents and purposes, you can feel free to live your life as if you have absolute free will, because for all practical purposes, you do. You do, even if all of your decisions were predetermined by the conditions set forth at the time of the Big Bang.
Only something capable of observing, measuring and calculating the vectors of ALL of the atoms (or subatomic quantum units) in the universe would be capable of projecting all of those interactions into the future. This "thing" would have to live outside of the universe to prevent itself from being part of the scenario, and would have to be a lot bigger then the universe it was measuring.
This is all hypothetical, and I don't seriously believe in this imaginary thing that many people reading this have undoubtedly already labelled as "god". Why would you want it to be real? It's actual existence would negate your free will.
2007-04-29 01:02:23 · answer #1 · answered by DiesixDie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Future is future, present is present. What is future in the present, will be present in the future. So future and present are quite relative.
Have you ever thought it could be predetermined in the past?
Actually, this is a case of cause and effect. Something you do in the present might have a 100% chance of causing a certain thing to happen in the future. In that case, you've predetermined an aspect of the future in the present.
2007-04-29 12:51:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the other way around. The future and the past determine the present.
2007-04-29 08:04:29 · answer #3 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
The past influences the Present.
The Future is nebulous... each of our decisions helps to form the Future. Some decisions have only a tiny effect.... others can have a drastic effect.
Deciding whether or not to have juice or coffee with your breakfast affects the future minimally... and the decisions of a violent madman can affect the future drastically if he has access to weapons to implement his decisions. (if not, then he only lives within his own mind and harms no one).
If you try to make the best decisions you can, for the benefit of yourself and others... then you are working toward a Future that is brighter :)
If you live only for your own benefit, at the expense of others... you are working toward a Future that is not worth living (IMO, of course :))
Together we can create a better Future for all....
2007-04-29 08:45:32 · answer #4 · answered by John T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does it mean to say "the future is already determined"? To intelligent beings inside the Universe, the future is inherently unknowable, if physics is anything like what quantum mechanics indicates. To whom, then, would it be determined?
2007-04-29 12:09:43 · answer #5 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quantum uncertainty makes it impossible for even God to predict the future.
2007-04-29 17:50:59 · answer #6 · answered by steve b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. Things happen, then you react. Everything is in the past.
Excuse me now, while I clap one-handed.
2007-04-29 08:04:28 · answer #7 · answered by Labsci 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The future is not set"
-Sarah Conner
2007-04-29 10:25:25 · answer #8 · answered by allthe YA! facesarebillycorgan! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋