Does the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle tell us anything in the Fate vs Free Will debate?

Question

I really don't think it does. It just tells us that we can't know the exact outcome of a situation, because by observing it we change it. However, that doesn't mean we change the laws of physics by observing the situation.

Other ideas?

Answer 1

This principle tell us that we can only distinguish between position and momentum to a certain degree... ΔxΔp≥ħ/2.
The more precise you know one then the less you know about the other.

So how does Δx and Δp relate to fate or free will? Fate implies that the future is already determined, where as free will implies that it can be changed at any time we/you wish. In the quantum world everything is determined by probablities... nothing is definite.

However, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle does not deal in probabilities and applies to the macro scale too. Consider this picture (http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/catalog/images/DiscusThrowing.jpg), you can be pretty certain about the position but you cannot gain any information (from the picture) about the persons movement (momentum).

Under Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle observing a situation need does not change it... just like kennyk says above.

Answer 2

Yes it does. This isn't a physics question or even a theological question it is a logic's question and it deals with the definition of words which is very important in the application of any principle or law. Although the effect of our viewing an event is greater on small objects, the size of the object is irrelevant to the application of the principle.The key word here is change. If our viewing an event changes it then by definition we have altered the course of events. The principle all ready assumes that the outcome of a chain of events WILL be different because of our actions. There is no room to deviate or change the course of a predetermined outcome. A simpler question would be: Can the principle be valid in a predetermined universe? No. This takes into account humans as a secondary cause, because the use of the word change implies an outcome which deviates from its otherwise predetermined end, the two are mutually exclusive. Weather or not we have any knowledge of the outcome only serves to obfuscate the matter

Answer 3

Some arguments have been made that the uncertainty principle may provide a mechanism for free will. But these arguments were made by theologians not physicists.

But the idea that by observing a situation we can change the OUTCOME (not the laws of physics) stems from the Pauli exclusion principle and the phenomenon of entangled particles rather than Heisenberg Uncertainty.

Answer 4

The Principle has greater effect on smaller and smaller particles. It is pretty easy to tell, for example, where a car is and its speed at any moment. Not so easy for an atom, an harder yet for an electron. Notice that none of these things can be meaningfully compared to fate or free will. You are trying to apply the wrong tool to an inappropriate problem. Like trying to decide whether an apple tastes good by smacking your your philosophy teacher with a pipe wrench. You may like the results but the question wasn't properly answered.

Answer 5

It has a lot to say about Fate, but less about Free Will. They are not mutually exclusive as you imply. Fate implies that the future is determined, regardless of our limited knowledge of it. Classical mechanics is a deterministic theory, meaning that, given the present state of the world, there is only one solution to the equations of motion that describe it's future state at any time. Any uncertainty about the future, therefore, is simply the result of our limited personal knowledge of the present and ability to solve the equations.

The World, however, is not classical. Quantum Mechanics describes it much better, and QM is a *probabilistic* theory. This means one can only calculate the odds of something occurring in the future, *regardless* (and this is the key difference) of how precisely one measures its present state. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle implies not only that one cannot *measure* position and momentum simultaneously with arbitrary precision, but their values are fundamentally indeterminate, as opposed to being precise values simply hidden from view.

Free will is a different matter because it is a fuzzier concept than fate. It's existence depends entirely on how you define it. If you take it to mean the logical opposite of Fate (that your future is undetermined), then there is Free Will. If you take it to mean the *probability* that you will do something in the future is not determined, then there is no Free Will.

Answer 6

You are right.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle simply puts a limit to the accuracy of position and energy measurement; not to the exact value those have.
That said, fate vs free will does not change the laws of physics; those still apply.

Answer 7

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle relates to the motion of small particles.

What can this possbly have to do with a debate on Fate and Free will?

Answer 8

the uncertainties in the energy DEand interval of timeDT to measure it obey thefollowing Heisenberg's uncertainty product: DExDT= h/2pi.
both canot be measurd accurately simultaneously.

Answer 9

No because I dont think you could make a correlation between momentum and free will or fate, but if this is an assignment for school, you're teacher should be fired