2012-04-22, 02:14 AM
The "particle one" has been around since the time of Sir Isaac Newton, but was utterly destroyed with an understanding of quantum physics. Many subatomic particle movements are completely random and unpredictable. Not to mention that Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that you cannot know both the place and movement at the same time. This uncertainty means that any predictions would be the most likely outcomes of possible events.
There are some thought experiments with general relativity (see Putnam's argument concerning Minkowski space-time) that indicate that "predicting" the future through exploiting relativistic timelines and theoretical speed of light communication. In simple terms, it may be possible to learn what "will" happen from a timeline where it "already happened". Sorry if that didn't make a lot of sense, it's very difficult to describe since English doesn't really have a tense that describes relativistic time.
I have no idea what this 7 sec brain thing is.
In other words, there is no scientific way to predict the future currently and at least some evidence that it never can be.
That said, I think you are neglecting an important aspect of the question. Does "predicting" the future negate free will? Not necessarily. Knowledge of the future doesn't necessarily change the idea that people chose their actions; it only complicates the system of analysis that determines actions.
There are some thought experiments with general relativity (see Putnam's argument concerning Minkowski space-time) that indicate that "predicting" the future through exploiting relativistic timelines and theoretical speed of light communication. In simple terms, it may be possible to learn what "will" happen from a timeline where it "already happened". Sorry if that didn't make a lot of sense, it's very difficult to describe since English doesn't really have a tense that describes relativistic time.
I have no idea what this 7 sec brain thing is.
In other words, there is no scientific way to predict the future currently and at least some evidence that it never can be.
That said, I think you are neglecting an important aspect of the question. Does "predicting" the future negate free will? Not necessarily. Knowledge of the future doesn't necessarily change the idea that people chose their actions; it only complicates the system of analysis that determines actions.