Deterministic Chaos
Is our universe governed by rigid laws that can be expressed and applied once understood? Or is it chaotic such that no outcome can be truly certain? The answer: yes.
Our understanding of the universe is still very basic, but we know at this point the universe is both a chaotic and deterministic system.
By chaotic, I don’t mean completely unpredictable and random. By deterministic, I don’t mean completely pre-ordained.
Chaos describes apparent randomness where inputs can be well known but precise outcomes really only guessed at. Deterministic systems are those where the starting conditions have a high degree of influence over outcomes…change the starting conditions a little, and the outcome will change a lot. So a system can be both chaotic and deterministic, and the universe is such a system.
What does this mean for us as humans? Everything and nothing, is what I’d write in the blue book. For me at this time, it means I will have another cup of coffee.
Here endeth the lesson on chaotic determinism.
Bike Newbie 