is the future set?

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amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
I've been toying with the same question in my head for a while and come up with 2 lines of thought..

1. The future is completely predetermined. All choices we make are already chosen for us. I.e. "free will" is just a fanciful idea that we are in control of our fate when in fact everything that has happened, is happening, and ever will happened is already said and done.

2. Every time someone has a choice of doing something, that choice splits off into multiple alternate universes with each new universe holding the consequence of that particular choice. With billions of people facing hundreds of choices every day that involves a nearly infinite number of co-existing alternate universes which in turn spawn more alternate universes as those alternate universe inhabitants make their own choices.


Of course, there could always be choice #3.. the earth is a really big supercomputer and we are nothing but AI algorithms..and unbeknownst to us we are planned for destruction in order to pave the way for an intergalactic superhighway.
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Elledan

Banned
Jul 24, 2000
8,880
0
0
If the future is really predetermined, then we can't discuss about it, since that would change the future.

The above is just a passing thought :)
 

skywhr

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
3,866
1
0
you know those choose your destiny dungeons and dragons books? life is like that.