Go back
determinism

determinism

Science

Vote Up
Vote Down

Determinism is not a scientific viewpoint.

There is more to be said, So much more that I'm not sure where to start.

Vote Up
1
Vote Down

Define "scientific viewpoint."

Vote Up
1
Vote Down

Originally posted by @apathist
Determinism is not a scientific viewpoint.
what does that mean?
And would it be true or false that
"Anti-determinism is not a scientific viewpoint"
and, if so, how so?

2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @apathist
Determinism is not a scientific viewpoint.

There is more to be said, So much more that I'm not sure where to start.
Do you mean determinism is not the only scientific viewpoint? Because as far as I can see it most certainly is a "scientific viewpoint". One that I use daily.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @joe-shmo
Do you mean determinism is not the only scientific viewpoint? Because as far as I can see it most certainly is a "scientific viewpoint". One that I use daily.
Science is about facts. Determinism is not a fact, it is an assumption.

What exactly do you use daily? Knowledge of cause and effect? Science is built on that.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Does science say that random events do not occur?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @kazetnagorra
Define "scientific viewpoint."
Yikes! In a word, I'd say testable.

Vote Up
1
Vote Down

Originally posted by @humy
what does that mean?
And would it be true or false that
"Anti-determinism is not a scientific viewpoint"
and, if so, how so?
That doesn't work, humy. If I said I don't accept horoscopes as scientific, you'd ask if anti-horoscopology would be scientific!

2 edits
Vote Up
1
Vote Down

Originally posted by @apathist
Does science say that random events do not occur?
Absolutely not, but scientists prefer the word stochastic.

Based primarily on humy's insistence, I have come around to recognizing determinism as a somewhat useful (although confusing) rhetorical tool or concept, but it's not even close to science.

Clearly, some people need to believe in determinism. But there's no way it actually exists from the standpoint of a testable hypothesis.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @apathist
Science is about facts. Determinism is not a fact, it is an assumption.

What exactly do you use daily? Knowledge of cause and effect? Science is built on that.
"What exactly do you use daily? Knowledge of cause and effect? Science is built on that"

Yes, the applied sciences depend on determinism to be useful. There are things which ore non-deterministic, like chaos...I'm not saying it is the only view, but it is at least one view science holds. Although it is probably not complete.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @joe-shmo
...
Yes, the applied sciences depend on determinism to be useful. ...
Hi joe. I feel honored. You don't post overmuch, and what you say is always solid.

But. The clockwork universe never existed. The outcome of a rolled die is not knowable until it happens.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @joe-shmo
...chaos....
Admit this please. You think chaos exists because of our ignorance. If we had enough information then the die roll is completely predictable.

Vote Up
Vote Down
-1

Originally posted by @wildgrass
... scientists prefer the word stochastic....
What you say is proof of my point.

Vote Up
Vote Down
-1

Originally posted by @joe-shmo
...
Yes, the applied sciences depend on determinism to be useful. ...
No. The next words out of you were not formed at the big bang.

We don't live in a giant clock. We are the clock. I skipped a few pages there, but we get to do that.

3 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by @apathist
That doesn't work, humy. If I said I don't accept horoscopes as scientific, you'd ask if anti-horoscopology would be scientific!
No, I wouldn't ask that. Determinism is a doctrine; horoscopes are not. Please don't be obtuse. Defined what you mean by "Determinism is not a scientific viewpoint" else, if not, you don't know what you are talking about.