Chaos theory challenges deterministic views of the universe from "summary" of Chaos by James Gleick
The idea that the universe operates according to fixed laws goes back to the ancient Greeks. They believed that everything in the world could be predicted with perfect accuracy if one only had enough information. This deterministic worldview persisted through the centuries, shaping the way scientists and philosophers thought about the nature of reality. However, in the twentieth century, a new scientific paradigm emerged that challenged this long-held belief. Chaos theory, as described by James Gleick in his book "Chaos," introduces a radical shift in how we understand the universe. At its core, chaos theory reveals that the behavior of complex systems is inherently unpredictable. Even the smallest changes in initial conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes, making long-term prediction impossible. This concept contradicts the deterministic view that the universe is a clockwork mechanism, operating according to fixed rules that can be precisely calculated. Gleick illustrates this idea through ...
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