2 ms·
Two objections: 1. Chaos theory ensures that unless we have INFINITE precision measurements, even a perfect simulation of our universe will diverge based on ev
by rthomas6 5y ago
Two objections:
1. Chaos theory ensures that unless we have INFINITE precision measurements, even a perfect simulation of our universe will diverge based on even the smallest differences. A difference of one particle's velocity in the googolth decimal place will eventually cause wildly different simulation outcomes. So, in practice, it's impossible to know what's going to happen given a long enough time frame, unless we can get advanced enough to have literally infinite precision measurements.
2. Given objection 1, using the law of large numbers to explain away quantum processes' non-determinism from initial conditions seems like a cop-out to me. Yes, given enough particles, they converge around some predictable value. But given the need to have exactness in measurements to predict chaotic processes, if a SMALL number of individual particles interact with other matter, and they sometimes do, how could the probabilistic nature of those individual particles be neglected?
Let me sum it up this way. If I take a quantum random number generator and use it to generate lat-long coordinates, and visit that place, could anyone or anything predict what happens given initial conditions before I do that? No, it is not bound by initial conditions.