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Can there exist an argument that could be used for proving that the universe is indeterministic?

If this one seems to be too strict (rigorous), I would also be interested to know a 1-sentence argument from either QEM or statistical mechanics that conjectures the indeterminism of the universe?

Sources:

  1. I already received an answer, "QM wave function is interpreted as a probability density and statistical mechanics postulates equates the ensemble average with the time average of a given physical quantity." (http://www.quora.com/Is-there-an-argument-that-could-be-used-for-proving-that-the-universe-is-indeterministic), but I still fail to see the actual argument.

  2. http://www.wired.com/2014/04/quantum-theory-flow-time/

Nikos M.
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tesgoe
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1 Answers1

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one-liner

coin flip, there you have it

another one:

The time of radioactive decay of an atom

Explanation:

For a coin flip, there is no (consistent) method to predict the outcome, of course one can approximate in some cases, but no method consistently gives the outcome.

Similarly in 2nd example, although quantum mechanics can predict cross-sections and mean values there is no consistent method to predict the time at which the next radio-active decay will happen. This can also be made more explicit via the time-energy uncertainty relation $\Delta E \Delta \tau$ (note that time is also related to some parts of causality)

Nikos M.
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