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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
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    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Metaphysical argument is a legitimate basis for evaluating the prospects of determinism, even absent a Final Theory of Physics

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Metaphysical arguments about determinism are only epistemically credible when constrained by the best available physical theories, as Quine's naturalism establishes.
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    • 2.Arguments constructed absent a Final Theory systematically risk encoding intuitions shaped by pre-quantum, pre-relativistic physics rather than genuine modal insight.
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    • 3.Therefore, metaphysical argument unconstrained by physics produces conclusions that reflect conceptual parochialism, not legitimate evaluation of determinism's prospects.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
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    • 1.The historical record shows metaphysical arguments for determinism (e.g., Laplace's demon) were decisively overturned by empirical physics, not by rival metaphysics.
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    • 2.If metaphysical arguments are legitimate evaluative tools absent a Final Theory, then Laplacean determinism would have retained philosophical standing despite quantum mechanics.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.We may never have a Final Theory of Everything in our lifetime
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    • 2.Even if we had such a theory, it remains unclear whether it would be deterministic or indeterministic
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    • 3.Physical and experimental grounds alone cannot currently settle the question of determinism
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