# Predictability Problems in Physics

**URL:** <https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572>\
**Category:** Side Conversation\
**Created:** [September 9, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572 "2018-09-09T03:04:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/49 "2018-09-11T15:27:04Z")

</div>

> [@jongarvey](#):
>
> That’s one reason I can’t see how Francis Collins’s idea, expanded by Kathryn Applegate, that God could do all he desired in the world by setting the big-bang and the laws up right in the beginning, could work.

If that “computer” is God, it certainly could. This is the view put forward, for example by Jon Kvanvig.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Patrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@Patrick](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Patrick)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/54 "2018-09-11T15:49:00Z")

</div>

> [@swamidass](#):
>
> If that “computer” is God, it certainly could. This is the view put forward, for example by Jon Kvanvig.

God is a “computer”. That’s original. That is better than God is a celestial machine. Or the blind watchmaker.  
What’s next God is AI?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/55 "2018-09-11T15:50:52Z")

</div>

> [@Patrick](#):
>
> > If that “computer” is God, it certainly could. This is the view put forward, for example by Jon Kvanvig.
> 
> God is a “computer”. That’s original. That is better than God is a celestial machine. Or the blind watchmaker.  
> What’s next God is AI?

Not merely a computer 😄.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Patrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@Patrick](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Patrick)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/56 "2018-09-11T15:52:37Z")

</div>

> [@swamidass](#):
>
> Not merely a computer 😄.

Yes, all powerful, omnipotent, all knowledgeable, always on, everywhere and nowhere, sort of like Google without any hardware or software. 🕶

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PdotdQ](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/pdotdq/32/1248_2.png) [@PdotdQ](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/PdotdQ)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/57 "2018-09-11T18:34:52Z")

</div>

> [@swamidass](#):
>
> It is my view, and I suppose of most Christians, that we have free will but God still works his purposes in society. How? We know not the details.

I agree with this.

> [@swamidass](#):
>
> However this is not a deterministic system, and some how this does not trouble us. It is far more salient and important than our distant past. I’m not sure why we should be concerned about non deterministism in origins when we are confronted every day with it in society. It seems to be a very selective concern.

This I find harder to agree. I think it is possible that whatever mechanism by which God works His purposes on the Universe are still deterministic at least up to the wavefunction level, or as @dga471 suggested might even be superdeterministic. If not, then I think it does trouble me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/58 "2018-09-11T20:24:09Z")

</div>

Perhaps it is superdeterministic. I’m just say we shouldnt be concerned of it isn’t.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/59 "2018-09-13T01:55:20Z")

</div>

Split this topic on September 13, 2018, 1:55am UTC

A post was merged into an existing topic: [Eddie Asks: Does God Govern Evolution?](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/eddie-asks-does-god-govern-evolution/1611/27)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/peacefulscience/original/2X/6/6b7bf72453a5c60b0919b6b89a27dc18bc52382c.png) [@system](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572/60 "2019-08-16T17:14:00Z")

</div>

Automatically bumped on August 16, 2019, 5:14pm UTC



[Previous page](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/predictability-problems-in-physics/1572.md?page=2)