The following does not seem to belong in this discussion.
From Write4U Post 32Can’t should be replaced by don’t or never learned.
BTW: I suppose there are mathematicians who never learned to waltz & some with physical disabilities preventing them from learning. I believe that any able bodied mathematician could lean to dance.
I and several of my friends are mathematicians as well as being athletic & having social capabilities. I resent the stereotypes of the dumb jock & the nerd with intelligence.
It should be noted that
prior to circa 1900-1920, mainstream physicists believed that the universe was deterministic, although none believed that humans would ever be able to collect the data & do the calculations required to in detail predict the future & determine the past.
Circa 1920 Quantum theory was accepted as valid (at least better than previous theories) refuting the notion of a deterministic universe.
The classical reality of our senses is built on a quantum level governed by probabilistic laws.
From WriteU4 Post 26From Stranger Post 27
From Stranger Post 31From Stranger Post 27From Stranger Post 33
It amazes me that intelligent folks seem to believe in some form of determinism. Consider radioactive decay. Why are various radioactive decay elements given a half life? It is because a whole life cannot be predicted. Given 1024 grams of an element with a half life of 10 minutes.
It is expected that in 10 minutes there will be 512 grams which did not decay; In 20 minutes there will 256 grams which did not decay; in 30 minutes there will be 128 grams which did not decay.
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, & walks like a duck, you should believe that it is a duck.
The above indicates that radioactive decay is a probabilistic process. Why Should anyone believe that it is deterministic?
Radioactive decay is a process known to most folks with some knowledge of physics. It is not the only probabilistic process.