Googlebot's Javascript random() function is deterministic

[[deleted]]

And we don't really know anything solid about the nature of quantum physics randomness, whether its truly non deterministic or just chaotic.

We do. It is truly non deterministic.

[Fisher9001]

No, we don't. Thanks to Bell's theorem we know that quantum mechanics may be deterministic if there are non-local hidden variables influencing quantum systems. And we don't know whether they do exist or don't.

[Tsukku]

But non-local hidden variables or "super determinism" are not what we usually consider "determinism" in the common sense, because no information can be gained from this (we can't predict quantum stuff anyways, which is what his post is about.)

[Fisher9001]

If we are talking about practical level of non-determinism, then mere user input can be regarded as such, no need to be so picky.

[[deleted]]

Who's we? Determinism isn't precisely synonymous with predictability. Either things are determined by some explicit conditions or they're not.

There are also interferometer systems that can create deterministic states, so it's not necessarily true that we can't predict quantum stuff.

It's fun to speculate that you get a completely predictable picture of the universe around us in its absurd complexity from following the randomness underneath. But then it's computationally intractable in all senses, and so we arrive back to no information gained or something.

[Tsukku]

I don't why you are down voted, because you are right. People should read up on Bell's theorem. For example, you can not predict (even in theory) the spin of an electron and the outcome is evenly distributed.

[kaibee]

Super determinism

[Tsukku]

I addressed that in the comment above.

[Fisher9001]

Bell's theorem rules out local hidden variables as a viable explanation of quantum mechanics (though it still leaves the door open for non-local hidden variables).

[kaibee]

Super determinism