"It is impossible to trap modern physics into predicting anything with perfect determinism because it deals with probabilities from the outset"
About this Quote
Arthur Eddington’s observation centers on the fundamental nature of modern physics, particularly how it is shaped by the indeterminacy and inherent randomness found in quantum theory. Classical physics, exemplified by the mechanics of Newton, offered a worldview where, given perfect knowledge of all initial conditions, the future evolution of a system could be predicted with absolute certainty. The universe, under such a framework, was akin to a giant clockwork mechanism, every cog and spring moving in complete accordance with fixed laws.
However, the development of quantum mechanics in the twentieth century profoundly altered this deterministic outlook. At atomic and subatomic scales, the behavior of particles no longer conforms to rigid predictability. Instead, it is governed by a mathematical formalism that yields probabilities rather than certainties. Positions, momenta, and other measurable quantities for particles can be described only in terms of likelihoods. When a measurement is performed, the result is not determined in advance, but selected probabilistically from a range of allowable outcomes.
Eddington’s point is that the language and predictions of modern physics are probabilistic not out of ignorance or technical limitation, but as an essential feature of nature revealed by experiment. Experiments such as the double-slit experiment, radioactive decay, and tests of the uncertainty principle all reinforce the idea that the outcomes of quantum events are intrinsically unpredictable. Thus, the framework of probability is not a temporary or superficial fix; it is woven into the very fabric of the theories themselves.
Consequently, the aspiration for perfect determinism, the idea that every future event can be calculated with exact precision, is unattainable according to the principles of modern physics. The best the theories can offer are statistical predictions, probability distributions over possible outcomes. The indeterminacy is not just a reflection of human limitation but an inescapable aspect of physical reality as understood through contemporary science.
However, the development of quantum mechanics in the twentieth century profoundly altered this deterministic outlook. At atomic and subatomic scales, the behavior of particles no longer conforms to rigid predictability. Instead, it is governed by a mathematical formalism that yields probabilities rather than certainties. Positions, momenta, and other measurable quantities for particles can be described only in terms of likelihoods. When a measurement is performed, the result is not determined in advance, but selected probabilistically from a range of allowable outcomes.
Eddington’s point is that the language and predictions of modern physics are probabilistic not out of ignorance or technical limitation, but as an essential feature of nature revealed by experiment. Experiments such as the double-slit experiment, radioactive decay, and tests of the uncertainty principle all reinforce the idea that the outcomes of quantum events are intrinsically unpredictable. Thus, the framework of probability is not a temporary or superficial fix; it is woven into the very fabric of the theories themselves.
Consequently, the aspiration for perfect determinism, the idea that every future event can be calculated with exact precision, is unattainable according to the principles of modern physics. The best the theories can offer are statistical predictions, probability distributions over possible outcomes. The indeterminacy is not just a reflection of human limitation but an inescapable aspect of physical reality as understood through contemporary science.
Quote Details
| Topic | Science |
|---|---|
| Source | Arthur Eddington , quoted on Wikiquote: "It is impossible to trap modern physics into predicting anything with perfect determinism, because it deals with probabilities from the outset." |
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