Is the Past Uniquely Defined in Quantum Mechanics?

[jmd_dk]

Quantum mechanics provides indeterminism to our world. If we were to go back in time and let history takes it toll once again, we are very unlikely to end up with the same history as we have now. That is, the future is not unique. There is a clear consensus about this in the scientific world, and I have no problems or questions about it.

Now, it is the Rules of Quantum Mechanics that lead to this non-unique future, simply because these rules doesn't produce a unique outcome. These rules also applies in reverse, that is, if we want to figure out the past, rather than the future. So, even if we had all the knowledge of the present world at out disposal, we wouldn't be able to figure out the (unique) past. Rather, we would find many possible histories, all with the potential to lead to today. I now ask the question; is the past uniquely defined any more than the future is? We all agree pretty well about the events of the past, which suggest that the past very well may be unique. But how does the past protect itself against the fuzziness of quantum mechanics? In what way is the past uniquely defined, when the future aren't?

Do any consensus about this "reverse determinism" exist? Thank you

 

[genericusrnme]

That's quite an interesting question..
Although I wouldn't really know where to start out, I'm going to keep my eye on this thread.

 

[ZapperZ]

There are many phenomena that exhibit broken time reversal symmetry. I think that in itself should answer this question.

Zz.

 

[K^2]

There are significantly fewer past states than future states. You can think of it as consequence of entropy increase, or you can think of it as what defines the arrow of time. Either way, past is much better determined than the future is. But there is absolutely no reason to believe that history is unique. It certainly isn't on microscopic level, and probably isn't on macroscopic either.

 

[pmacias]

for your question. I can provide a response to this content based on current scientific understanding and research.

Firstly, it is important to clarify that the concept of determinism in quantum mechanics is still a topic of debate and ongoing research. While it is true that quantum mechanics introduces indeterminism into our world, it does not necessarily mean that the future is completely unpredictable. In fact, many scientists believe that there are still underlying deterministic laws at play in the quantum world, but our current understanding and technology may not be able to fully explain or predict these phenomena.

Regarding the uniqueness of the past, it is important to consider the concept of causality. Causality is the idea that every event has a cause and effect relationship, and this is a fundamental principle in physics. While quantum mechanics may introduce some unpredictability, it does not necessarily disrupt the concept of causality. Therefore, it can be argued that the past is still uniquely defined based on the events and causes that have led to our present state.

Furthermore, the concept of the past being uniquely defined is also supported by the laws of thermodynamics. These laws state that the universe is constantly moving towards a state of increasing disorder, or entropy. This means that the past cannot be repeated exactly as it has already occurred, as the universe is constantly changing and evolving.

In terms of the "reverse determinism" mentioned in the content, there is currently no consensus in the scientific community about this concept. While some theories suggest that the past can be determined by observing the present, there is still much research and debate surrounding this idea.

In conclusion, while quantum mechanics may introduce some unpredictability and fuzziness into our world, it does not necessarily mean that the past is not uniquely defined. The concept of causality and the laws of thermodynamics support the idea that the past is a series of unique events and causes that have led to our present state. However, further research and understanding of quantum mechanics may provide more insights into the concept of determinism and its implications for the past and future.