Is everything in this world predestined? Does it matter what you do, or is everything that was supposed to happen ultimately going to happen no matter what?
As helpless and useless thinking this may be, it makes sense that the world is on a timeline of continuing predestination. Everything in the world will happen only one way, no matter how we try to change it, because what we change is ultimately the future.
Based on cause and effect, every action leads to a definite series of other actions. Since the world is already in motion, every action, combined with all factors of the environment, will proceed predestined. This may sound too big of a wishy-washy claim to seem practical, so here’s an example.
Based on physical properties that we’ve discovered so far, “an object traveling in uniform motion will remain traveling in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net force” (Newton’s first law of motion). Just based on this, we know that two or more objects interacting with each other will perform based on this rule, which we know and can use to predict motions of objects in the future. If this applied to all objects in this universe, wouldn’t that mean we could theoretically calculate exactly what is going to happen next?
Of course, we don’t have the power to numerically calculate the exact motion of an object in the real world because there are too many things to take into account. But does that mean we don’t know the world is predestined? It’s a large equation we can’t solve but know that there is a definite answer to. Hence, the world could be observed as predestined.
But then again, there is absolutely no way to verify this claim, because we would never know how things would happen otherwise. Time moves on and what has happened is history and will never be changed to our will. This theory, however, could be just a helpful way of thinking, as with any other. If it gets the work done and makes people happy, as far as I’m concerned, the theory works.
Note that I’m thinking about this from a scientific perspective, without the involvement of religion. It would just get more complicated for both perspectives to co-exist and to both justify this topic.
A powerful view; championed by both Einstein and Newton. However, from a scientific perspective it seems the uncertainty principle threw a monkey range in the theory. It seems the exact movements of the electron are governed by strict probability, not true cause and effect.
I cant say I believe in fate Oliver. However I do believe that you are making me think harder than normal… which cant be good. Very interesting view on the subject though, and well written.
Pat, probability is an interpretation of cause and effect. The relationship between the cause and effect is unknown, but definite for one object. Hence probability is the sum of the effects of many objects. Electron isn’t the smallest thing there is, mind you.
That would be an atom. However every effect is based on an initial cause, and since probability is the likelihood of an event happening, as opposed to the event’s result, logic would suggest the strict probability we talk of is in fact based on the sum of causes, rather than effects.
That works too. Effects become causes for other things and the causes of some things are effects of previous actions.
But what I mean by the smallest isn’t really defined. An electron is smaller than an atom, but inside the electron there are things we see but can’t identify. Everything is divisible if we are able to get down to it.
Cause and effect doesn’t necessarily involve predestination. A particular action closes the doors on some possibilities and also opens others and it shows the interconnectedness of everything (which you’ve mentioned) and it can mean that you can decide your actions and based on that it will change your options for the future. If that is the case wouldn’t it be predestined only in part? You might have your options changed because of actions/causes, but the next move is ultimately yours.
Your idea of predestination is really interesting, however dealing especially with people it denies the concept of free will, but then what if free will is just an illusion of predestination making us think that we have control? It’s a pretty circular argument. Still, I like yours, it took me a while to understand, but I think it’s a really amazing perspective.
The next move is always ultimately yours. But “yours” is defined to be a collection of preferences and a final choice, which all depend on those previous actions/causes.
Glad to have shared this with you.