Is Determinism the Only Logical Explanation for the Past?

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The discussion centers on the concept of determinism and whether the past could have unfolded differently. One participant argues that it is illogical to suggest alternative pasts exist outside of causality, while another counters that such beliefs stem from intuition rather than logic. The conversation highlights the complexity of understanding time and causality, with one contributor asserting a deterministic view of the universe akin to a quantum clock. They emphasize that common sense does not always align with the universe's behavior, and disagreements on foundational axioms can lead to differing conclusions about determinism. Ultimately, the debate illustrates the philosophical complexities surrounding the nature of time and causality.
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Logically, doesn't it seem rediculous to postulate that the past "could have" occurred differently than the way it did, as if choices were being made by something outside of the governance of causality?
 
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Is there something I need to understand about time that would make the question less cut and dry?
 
adrianopolis said:
Logically, doesn't it seem rediculous to postulate that the past "could have" occurred differently than the way it did, as if choices were being made by something outside of the governance of causality?

No, I don't think so. Thats not logic, that's your intuition or belief.
 
ModusPwnd said:
No, I don't think so. Thats not logic, that's your intuition or belief.

Can you justify your logic as to why there part of nature is disconnected from causality?

Also by your logic why did the past happen the way it did as opposed to some other way?

I guess your response would be something to do with randomness which is a cop out in my opinion because it means causality has to be abandoned on the small scale. Why is it accepted that causality does not govern? How would that make sense to people?
 
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This really isn't physics, there used to be a philosophy board but alas it is gone. This'll probably be moved or locked, but until then...

I am a determinist. It is my firm believe that the entire universe behaves like a complicated quantum clock.

That being said, two things need to be made abundantly clear:

1. The OP keeps referencing 'making sense'. We already know that the universe does not behave like we think it should. Our common sense and what we think 'should happen' does not apply here.
2. My belief on the determinism of the universe is based off a single axiom: everything that can be affected or affect the universe follows a set of physics similar to what we use today (I'd like to say "is a QFT", but I don't have the background for that).

The important thing here is that it is quite possible to disagree with that argument, and if you disagree with that axiom, then you can quite easily conclude the universe is non deterministic - or at least not uniquely so.
 
Sorry...this isn't physics.
 

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