Where Did the Concept of Predicting the Universe's Future Originate?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the origins of the idea that if one knew the position and velocity of every particle in the universe, one could predict all future actions and reactions. Participants explore historical references and implications of this concept, particularly in relation to determinism and its evolution in light of modern physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Historical, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls a quote suggesting that complete knowledge of particle positions and velocities would allow for the prediction of all future events, linking it to Isaac Newton's third law.
  • Another participant references Pierre Simon Laplace's articulation of scientific determinism, highlighting his assertion that an intellect with complete knowledge of the universe's state could predict the future.
  • A later reply notes that the validity of Laplace's quote is challenged by developments in Quantum Mechanics, suggesting that the deterministic view may no longer hold true.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the origins of the quote or its implications, with some supporting Laplace's view while others question its relevance in the context of Quantum Mechanics.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects limitations in the understanding of determinism, particularly in relation to the implications of Quantum Mechanics, which introduces uncertainty that challenges classical deterministic views.

Eru_JRRT
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A long time ago I heard a quote that went along the lines of "if we knew the location and velocity of every particle in the universe we could predict every action and reaction from now until the end of time." I'm thinking this idea may have come from Issac Newton as his third law would seem to have a connection it.

My question is if any of you know where this quote/idea originated from? I'd like to use the idea in a personal project of mine but have no where to source it from.

I would really appreciate any help with this.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Laplace:

http://www.bobkwebsite.com/whatishup.html
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplace
In 1814, Laplace published what is usually known as the first articulation of causal or scientific determinism:[39]


We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of its past and the cause of its future. An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces that set nature in motion, and all positions of all items of which nature is composed, if this intellect were also vast enough to submit these data to analysis, it would embrace in a single formula the movements of the greatest bodies of the universe and those of the tiniest atom; for such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes.

—Pierre Simon Laplace, A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities[40]
 
Note that in the light of Quantum Mechanics this quote isn't accurate anymore.
 

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