Question

Philosophers and many scientists seem to distinguish between the macro and micro world a lot. Things in the micro world seem to be indeterministic, atleast through the standard interpretation of QM. My question is two fold.

A) If quantum events are truly indeterministic and unpredictable, how is it that the probabilities defined in that sphere are of a certain number? Why isn’t there complete chaos?
B) Why or how does quantum indeterminism lead to the laws in which we know the macroscopic world operates in such as the net force on an object being equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration? Why a particular equation rather than another one? In other words, why is there not complete chaos if at the most fundamental of stages, there is a lack of deterministic behavior? Is it at all possible that we could be wrong about this indeterminism?

Answer 1

A) Quantum events, while indeterministic, follow probabilistic rules in Quantum Mechanics, preventing complete chaos by adhering to defined probabilities.

B) Quantum indeterminism doesn't lead to chaos at the macroscopic level due to the statistical averaging of probabilistic behaviors, resulting in deterministic equations like Newton's second law. The specific equations are empirical, emerging from successful predictions despite underlying quantum uncertainty.

Step-by-step explanation:

Quantum indeterminism doesn't entail complete chaos due to the probabilistic nature of quantum events being constrained by specific rules. The probabilities in the micro world, as defined by the square of the wave function in QM, give a statistical distribution. The sum of these probabilities over all possible outcomes yields certainty, preventing chaos.

On the macroscopic scale, quantum indeterminism averages out. Consider a large ensemble of quantum particles: the probabilistic nature of individual particles converges to deterministic behaviors at the macro level, akin to the law of large numbers in statistics. This convergence results in classical laws, like Newton's second law (F = ma), emerging from the underlying quantum indeterminacy.

The choice of specific equations in classical mechanics is a result of empirical observation and successful predictions. While quantum indeterminism challenges strict determinism, it doesn't imply chaos on macroscopic scales. The structured emergence of deterministic laws from quantum uncertainty showcases the intricate relationship between the micro and macro worlds, providing a coherent framework for understanding the behavior of the universe.