Are our lives completely predetermined?

[Reach]

I would say no. Quantum mechanics should prohibit it. The entire universe as a whole is indeterminate. You cannot know with 100% certainty the outcome of most events. For example, it is possible to pass through a wall. Unlikely? Yes, so unlikely in fact given you tried to for the entire duration of the universes existance you would probably not make it through, but alas still possible.

That computer monitor sitting infront of you; there is nothing keeping it there other than shere probability. It could at any moment appear in another room.

And then we have crazy things in this universe like turbulence that we just can't seem to figure out. Quantum foam anyone?

It's not like I can prove that the universe is or is not predetermined, but I would like to think of it as self manifesting, and we determine our own path in life ( at least relative to the choices we are actually able to make). As an analogy, rather than thinking of the universe as a set of determined reactions, I would think of a set of reactions that are like dice; each reaction having multiple outcomes that have not yet been determined.

You can take a pair of identical twins, who are genetically exactly the same. They have the same brains. Do they have the same thoughts and make the same choices? No, they don't, because their existance influences these 'dice' reactions that are happening all around them, independant of one another. They too are able to make thier own choices, and their existance is not predetermined in any way.

I think you would require a set of supernatural forces to try and say the universe and everything in it is predetermined. What we do know from science points to the fact that this simply isn't true.

Instead, what appears to be happening is there is a certain degree to which things are predetermined; for example, you have to abide by the laws of physics. However, within this degree of prederministic existance, there is chaos and randomness which can exist freely from the predetermined. These 'Laws' in themselves make up the framework, or the 'rules' of the 'game', and then from there it is a free for all battle. The world would be one hell of a lame place had we no influence on events. Questions like 'why' or 'how' would be erased; the answer simply becomes 'because' and 'it just does'.


edit: I was just thinking and, I hope you guys that do believe everything is predetermined don't believe in God I mean, holy ****, God would be such an a-hole if everything was predetermined. You know, imagine a family that has some sob sneak into their house in the middle of the night and murder every one of them. Well then, God planned that. He planned it every time something goes horribly wrong in your life. He planned it every time you lose, all of your failures and shortcomings were planned by this being you worship and love.

Yea...for the sake of keeping some good in religion I hope I'm right XD