Q&A: Gaps in Nature
Gaps in Nature
Question
Is there room to support the position that in nature there are non-deterministic gaps and open places? If so, I’d be happy for examples and supporting arguments. Someone told me that chaos and quantum theory say this—is that true?
Answer
The question is phrased in terminology taken from me. So it seems you’ve read things I wrote (in the book God Plays Dice, and especially The Science of Freedom), so it seems odd to me that you’re asking. See in The Science of Freedom two chapters on the subject. In short, there are gaps (only in quantum theory, not in chaos), but this has no implications for God or for our free choice.
Discussion on Answer
Also, at the core of the theory of evolution accepted in biological science there is randomness without prior causes.
And indeed, I addressed that in my books as well. That’s a mistake made by biologists who aren’t careful. They tend to treat certain components as random, when that is only a mathematical way of handling them. According to what is currently accepted in quantum physics, there are no random things at the relevant scales.
Do you think a deterministic worldview contradicts God’s individual providence? (I’m not saying there is providence; I’m only asking whether the two contradict each other.)
It contradicts its accepted meaning. In the accepted sense, individual providence means His involvement and decisions at a certain time about what will happen according to a person’s actions. If everything is fixed in advance, it’s hard to speak about individual providence in that sense. One can of course argue that the laws of nature do the will of their Creator, and through them He exercises providence. One can also speak of passive providence (He follows what is being done, but is not involved in what is being done).
I’d be happy to get a reference to the Rabbi’s discussion of the gaps that exist—or don’t exist—in evolution.
Do you mean randomness in evolution? See here, in the section under the heading “A Note Before Concluding”:
I didn’t know that came from you. Someone told me that about prayer—that God intervenes in those gaps (not regarding free choice).