Do You Believe in Fate? | Learn What Randomness Means

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Grimmus
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of fate and its relationship with randomness, free will, and determinism. Participants explore philosophical and scientific perspectives on whether events are predetermined or if randomness plays a significant role in the universe.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express belief in fate, suggesting that randomness does not truly exist and that we simply lack complete information to predict future events.
  • Others argue that many physical processes, such as nuclear decay, appear random and challenge the notion of causality, proposing two main interpretations: hidden variables leading to determinism or a fundamentally acausal quantum reality.
  • One participant suggests that predetermined events should be describable by complex mathematical models, while another defines fate as a predetermined future that excludes random chance.
  • Some contributions emphasize the role of free will in altering the course of events, suggesting that while probabilities can be calculated, certainty is unattainable.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of belief, with some asserting that beliefs should be based on evidence, while others argue that belief in a divine power makes life more meaningful.
  • A metaphor involving three blind men and an elephant is introduced to illustrate that different perspectives can all be valid, despite differing interpretations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on fate, with no consensus reached. Some believe in fate as predetermined, while others emphasize randomness and free will, leading to an unresolved discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of defining fate and the implications of randomness, suggesting that definitions and interpretations may vary significantly. The discussion includes philosophical considerations that may not have definitive answers.

Fate?

  • Yea... because of divine intervention

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • NO

    Votes: 4 50.0%
  • Yea... because of mathmatics

    Votes: 3 37.5%

  • Total voters
    8
The Grimmus
Messages
199
Reaction score
0
Do you believe in fate?

I do but not because of some divine being, because randome can't really exist we have just not gatherd all the information to find out what will happen tommrow
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Once, I thought option 3, but I don't know anymore...

The truth is, a lot of physical processes do turn out to be apparently completely random. For example, nuclear decay - we can work out a formula for how likely it is to decay, and an overall statistical method for it's overall variation, but we can't say WHY a particular atom decays at a particular time. It seems to throw causality out the window.

There are as always, two solutions... (as far as I can tell)

1. There are hidden variables which determine the apparent random behaviour, and the randomness is due to the failure of our instruments to find the real causes. When we have the ToE, we can put them all in a deterministic framework.
2. The thing we observe as cause and effect are just an overview of the acausal quantum reality. The randomness cancels out at larger scales to form apparent order out of chaos. The universe is fundamentally not determinist - it just seems to be as a matter of generalisation. Our brains, acting in between the two worlds hence have an element of freedom.
 
Any predetermined thing should be able to be described by (a complicated) mathematical 'thing'
 
I voted no, but it depends a little on how you define fate. If fate is just random chance, then fate exists. However, I would define fate as a predetermined future - which excludes random chance (unless of course the random chance happens BEFORE the event it affects. Tough issue in any case.
 
in every moment lies great opportunity...
 
i'm sort of bringing stuff over from the creation and evolution thread, but it seems that if one believes god created man in his image, with the intent for us to turn out just as we have, then fate is innevitable.
 
Originally posted by FZ+
Once, I thought option 3, but I don't know anymore...

The truth is, a lot of physical processes do turn out to be apparently completely random. For example, nuclear decay - we can work out a formula for how likely it is to decay, and an overall statistical method for it's overall variation, but we can't say WHY a particular atom decays at a particular time. It seems to throw causality out the window.

There are as always, two solutions... (as far as I can tell)

1. There are hidden variables which determine the apparent random behaviour, and the randomness is due to the failure of our instruments to find the real causes. When we have the ToE, we can put them all in a deterministic framework.
2. The thing we observe as cause and effect are just an overview of the acausal quantum reality. The randomness cancels out at larger scales to form apparent order out of chaos. The universe is fundamentally not determinist - it just seems to be as a matter of generalisation. Our brains, acting in between the two worlds hence have an element of freedom.


yea we would need all of the knowledg in the univers(es) - the futre and well frankly better thought procceses than we have now to predetermine eveyrthing. If we can figure out that due to the corse of some atomispheric gases would change the air pressure then we could figure out who would be affected and inturn figure out how tha would affect the thought proccese. then ofocurse consider absolutly every thing in the univers(es) to figurese out what will happen
 
Do I believe in fate? Well, in order to answer this question we must meet a mutual agreement as to what fate is. A dictionary definition says that it is a force or power that predetermines events or the inevitable events predestined by this force. Also it is a final result or consequence; an outcome or unfavorable destiny; doom.
Personally I always thought dictionary definitions were always a complicated way of saying what something is, especially when looking at things which are much harder for us to understand.
I believe in a lot of things and I don't always understand what I believe but I do know that there is a reason to everything. There is so much knowledge out there for us to learn but I can't accept that we find this knowledge only to die. I don't understand what mathematics has to do with fate, and I guess I'm with the majority in saying that I believe in fate due to a divine intervention. This is because it makes life worthwhile and makes the whole world seem so much easier. Mathmatics can't tell you what you're having for tea.
 
i'm not permitted to vote so i will say, NO. we can make calculations as to the most probable of all probable futures i will experience, BUT it will never be 100%.

freewill will allow us to change the direction of any/all probability threads of experience.

loveNpeace,
olde drunk
 
  • #10
FoxNax: You believe something because it makes the world seem nice? Don't we usually form beliefs because of evidence pointing toward the truth of some proposition? I mean, it would be nice if every woman I came across wanted badly to get into my pants, but I don't believe that's the case.
 
  • #11
No, I believe that most people look at the bad side to things and it makes the world seem like a horrible place when it's not all that bad. There are plenty of beautiful things that make the world seem nice and is it so bad to believe that they are due to some divine power?
 
  • #12
Not bad, just unsubstantiated. Besides, I fail to see how that is a more positive outlook than one which sees beauty, but only as the result of nature.
 
  • #13
"nature is not programmed but is triggered by what you have done in the past. that is why for every action there is a reaction"

-----------I found this somewhere and thought what ur comments are---------------
 
  • #14
I've just thought but technically, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. There are only different views. Different people see things differently and therefore interpret them differently so all our thoughts could be correct. It's like the three blind men trying to see what an elephant is like. None can see the bigger picture and all three find different parts of the elephant to touch so, what all three feel and describe is correct, even though none of their descriptions are the same.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
7K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
15
Views
5K
  • · Replies 69 ·
3
Replies
69
Views
7K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K