Take a chance: Scientists put randomness to work

J. H. Beynon

Jenann Ismael

The chance of a physical event is the objective, single-case probability that it will occur. In probabilistic physical theories like quantum mechanics, the chances of physical events play the formal role that the values of physical quantities play in classical (deterministic) physics, and there is a temptation to regard them on the model of the latter as describing intrinsic properties of the systems to which they are assigned.I argue that this understanding of chances in quantum mechanics, despite being a part of the orthodox interpretation of the theory and the most prevalent view in the physical community, is incompatible with a very wide range of metaphysical views about the nature of chance. The options that remain are unlikely to be attractive to scientists and scientifically minded philosophers.

Jenann Ismael

The chance of a physical event is the objective, single-case probability that it will occur. In probabilistic physical theories like quantum mechanics, the chances of physical events play the formal role that the values of physical quantities play in classical (deterministic) physics, and there is a temptation to regard them on the model of the latter as describing intrinsic properties of the systems to which they are assigned.I argue that this understanding of chances in quantum mechanics, despite being a part of the orthodox interpretation of the theory and the most prevalent view in the physical community, is incompatible with a very wide range of metaphysical views about the nature of chance. The options that remain are unlikely to be attractive to scientists and scientifically minded philosophers.

David Z. Albert

Abdo Abou Jaoudé

The system of probability axioms of Andrey Nikolaevich Kolmogorov put forward in 1933 can be developed to encompass the set of imaginary numbers after adding to his established five axioms a supplementary three axioms. Therefore, any probabilistic phenomenon can thus be performed in what is now the set of complex probabilities C which is the sum of the real set of probabilities R and the complementary and associated and corresponding imaginary set of probabilities M. The aim here is to compute the complex probabilities by taking into consideration additional novel imaginary dimensions to the phenomenon that occurs in the ‘real’ laboratory. Hence, the corresponding probability in the entire probability set C = R + M is, whatever the random distribution of the input random variable considered in R, permanently and constantly equal to 1. Thus, the result of the stochastic experiment in C can be foretold perfectly and completely. Subsequently, the consequence shows that luck and chance in R is substituted now by absolute determinism in C. Accordingly, this is the consequence of the fact that the probability in C is got by subtracting from the degree of our knowledge of the random system the chaotic factor. Henceforth, I will apply to the established and well-known theory of quantum mechanics my innovative and original Complex Probability Paradigm (CPP) which will yield a completely deterministic expression of quantum theory in the universe of probabilities C = R + M.