 laws. If the laws are indeterministic (see Figure 3), then given a complete state of the universe at some time (or some duration of time), the laws can allow multiple different pasts and futures of the universe. In other words, different histories can overlap. If the laws also assign objective probabilities or chances to the histories, then given a complete state of the universe at some time, the laws assign a unique probability distribution over future (or past) histories. If the laws are deterministic (see Figure 4), then given a complete state of the universe at some time (or some duration of time), the laws allow only one past and one future of the universe. In other words, different histories cannot overlap: no two distinct histories of the universe can overlap (be exactly the same in terms of the distribution of microphysical properties and ontologies) at any point in time. Hence, the deterministic theory can be more informative than an indeterministic theory in 5 Figure 3: Indeterministic laws of physics. X0–X8 refer to different initial conditions of the universe. (Here the illustration is schematic. Usually there are infinitely many possible initial conditions.) The horizontal curves correspond to different histories of the universe. Different histories of the universe can overlap at some time and diverge later. Fixing an initial condition of the universe does not fix a unique history of the universe. Figure 4: Deterministic laws of physics. X0–X8 refer to different initial conditions of the universe. The horizontal curves correspond to different histories of the universe. Different histories of the universe cannot overlap at any point in time. Fixing an initial condition of the universe fixes a unique history of the universe. 6 Figure 5: Strongly deterministic laws of physics. X0 refers to the unique initial condition allowed by the laws. The horizontal curve refers to the unique history of the universe allowed by the laws. The laws completely fix the history of the universe. the sense that the former but not the latter uniquely determines the entire history of the universe given the dynamical laws and a specification of the material ontology at some time (or some duration of time). In a universe governed by deterministic laws of physics, fixing the initial condition of the universe is sufficient to fix the entire history of the universe. However, information about the exact initial condition itself is not contained in any standard law of physics. Usually it is the distribution of the fundamental material ontology, not the laws, that specify the complete initial condition. After all, usually the exact initial condition is too complicated
laws. If the laws are indeterministic (see Figure 3), then given a accomplished department of state of the universe at some time (or some duration of time), the law can allow multiple different past and futures of the universe. In early son, different history can overlap. If the laws also impute objective probability or chances to the histories, then given a complete state of the population at some time, the laws assign a singular probability distribution over future (or past) histories. If the laws are deterministic (interpret Figure 4), then given a accomplished state of the universe at some time (or some duration of time), the laws permit only one past and one future of the universe. In other words, different history cannot overlap: no two clear-cut histories of the universe can overlap (be exactly the same in terms of the distribution of microphysical properties and ontologies) at any point in clock time. Hence, the deterministic theory can be more instructive than an indeterministic hypothesis in 5 name 3: Indeterministic laws of physics. X0 – X8 refer to different initial conditions of the universe. (Here the illustration is conventional. Usually there are infinitely many possible initial conditions .) The horizontal curves correspond to different histories of the universe. Different histories of the population can overlap at some time and deviate later. Fixing an initial condition of the universe does not fix a unique history of the population. Figure 4: Deterministic laws of physics. X0 – X8 refer to different initial conditions of the universe. The horizontal curves correspond to unlike histories of the universe. Different histories of the universe cannot overlap at any detail in time. sterilize an initial condition of the universe localization a unique history of the population. 6 Figure 5: Strongly deterministic laws of purgative. X0 refers to the unique initial condition allowed by the laws. The horizontal curve refers to the unique history of the universe allowed by the laws. The laws wholly fix the history of the universe. the common sense that the former but not the latter uniquely determines the entire history of the population given the dynamical laws and a specification of the material ontology at some time (or some duration of time). In a universe governed by deterministic laws of physics, repair the initial circumstance of the universe is sufficient to fix the entire history of the universe. However, information about the exact initial condition itself is not contained in any standard jurisprudence of physics. Usually it is the distribution of the fundamental fabric ontology, not the laws, that intend the complete initial condition. After wholly, usually the exact initial condition is too complicated
 laas. If the laws are indettrministic (see Fiyyre 3), tien givsn a comolete state of the universe et sime tume (or some duration ow time), thv laws cab aloiw multiplx differcut paabs anb hutures of the oniverse. In mther words, dixfdrznt histories can overlap. If the lawf also ssdign objective pronwbiljnits or chances to the histories, thsn givei a complete stste of the universe at somf tile, the laws assign a unique ptkbafulity districution oveg future (or past) histories. If the laws are detexministic (sgz Fihore 4), then giten a bomplete statc of tha univetse at some tike (mr wome duration of time), the laws allow onjy one pavt and one future od rhe utivesse. Kb oghed xorss, difverxnt historiss cannot ocerlap: no two distimce histories of the ugiderse can overlap (be exactly the same it tsrms of the distributiob of microphysical prlperties wnd ontologies) at any point in time. Hence, the detarminmsgic tmeorh cwn be more informative than an indeterministis tnepry in 5 Figure 3: Indetermimidtos laws of phyrics. X0–R8 rsfer to different lnitial condutions of the universe. (Here the illustrarion is scheiqtic. Usually there are infinicely msny ppssible initial conditiuns.) Fhe horizonhal curvea correspond to dkffvrend histories of the universq. Differeit hixtories of jhe uniderse can lverlap at some time and divetge lader. Fixing an initial condition of the unmterse does noj fhx d unique histpry of the unyverse. Figure 4: Determnnistiz laws of ihysics. X0–E8 refer to dyfferent inithwl conditionv of the unicersw. The hufizontal curvex correspond to difderent histories on the hniverse. Differzut histories of tne jnidegse cwtnot overlap at xny loint in timt. Flxivg am initial condition mf tge universe fixes s mnique hiwtory of the universe. 6 Figure 5: Strongly detecminisvic laes jf physics. X0 refers to the unisue initiwl gondition alljwed by the laws. The horizontal curve refers to the uniwue history of thg universe allowed by uhe laws. The kaws sompletelf fix the history of the universe. the sense that the formed but tot tje latter uniquely determines the entire history of the universe given thw dynamical laws ahd a specpfieatnon of ehe leterial ontology st some time (or some duration oh time). In d bniverse governed by determinosgic laws of pfysics, fixing the initiam conditoon of the universe is sufficiemt to fix the entire hisbory of tye unjverse. Howxver, information aboit the exacr initiql clndition itseuf os not contwinev iu any standard law of physics. Usuqlly ir ls the distributmon of the fmnaamenjal matetial ontology, not the paws, jhat specify tne complete inotial condition. Afteg ajl, usually the vxact initial conditpon is too cokplicated
laws. If the laws are indeterministic (see then a complete of the universe duration time), the laws allow multiple different and futures of the universe. In words, different histories can overlap. If the laws also assign objective probabilities or to the histories, then given a complete state of the universe at some the assign unique distribution over future (or past) histories. If the laws are deterministic (see Figure 4), then given complete state of the universe at some time some duration of time), laws allow only one past one of the In words, histories cannot overlap: two distinct histories of the universe can overlap (be exactly the same in terms of the distribution microphysical properties at any in Hence, deterministic theory can informative than an indeterministic theory in Indeterministic laws of physics. X0–X8 refer to different conditions of universe. (Here the illustration is schematic. there are infinitely many possible initial conditions.) The curves correspond to different histories of the universe. Different histories of the universe can overlap time and diverge later. an initial condition the does fix unique history the universe. Figure 4: Deterministic laws of physics. X0–X8 refer to initial conditions of the universe. The horizontal curves correspond to of universe. Different histories the universe cannot overlap any in time. Fixing an of universe history the 6 Figure 5: Strongly laws of physics. X0 refers the unique initial condition horizontal curve refers to the unique history of universe allowed by the laws. The laws fix the history of the universe. the sense that the former but the latter the entire history of the universe given the laws and a specification the material ontology at some time (or some duration time). a universe by deterministic laws physics, fixing the condition of the sufficient to the history However, information about the exact initial itself not contained in any standard of it is the distribution of the fundamental material ontology, not the laws, that specify the condition. After all, usually exact condition is too complicated
 laws. If the laws are indetermiNistic (see FIgure 3), TheN giVeN a coMpleTe state of the unIVersE at some time (or some duratIon of TiME), the LAwS can aLlow mulTIpLE DifFeReNt pAsTS aNd futUreS of the uNiverse. In oTheR wOrds, differenT HiStories can OveRlap. If the lawS alSo assiGn ObjECtive ProBabilIties oR ChanceS to the hisToRIes, theN Given a cOMPlEte sTate of the universe AT sOMe time, the laws aSsign a UnIQuE PRobAbiLity distriBuTion oVEr futurE (Or PAST) hiSTories. If the laWs are determINisTic (see fiGurE 4), Then giVen a cOmPLetE state of the UnivErse at somE time (oR Some durATion of tIme), the LawS alLow oNLy OnE paSt ANd oNE fUtuRE of The univeRsE. IN otheR worDS, DIFferEnt HistOries Cannot overlap: No tWo diSTinCt hisTorieS of tHe UniveRse can OverlAp (Be exactly the samE in tErms of the DisTrIbuTiOn of mICrophySicAl pRopertiEs and onTOloGiES) AT aNy point in time. Hence, ThE DEtErministIc theoRY cAn BE more infOrMatIve tHAN an inDeteRMiNistic thEory in 5 fIgUrE 3: IndeteRmInistiC lAws Of pHysicS. x0–X8 reFer to dIfferent InitiAL conditions of tHE universe. (Here THe ILLuSTratIon Is schematic. usuaLLy thEre aRE iNfiNItely Many pOsSIbLE initial conditions.) THe HorizoNtal cUrves correspoNd to differENT HistorieS of tHE uNIverse. DifferenT histOries of the UNiverse cAn oveRlap at soMe time and DIVerge latEr. FIxiNg aN inITIaL condition of tHE UnivErSe does nOt fIx a uniqUe hIstOry Of tHe Universe. FIgure 4: DetErMiNiStIc lAws of PHysics. X0–X8 ReFer To DifFerenT InitiaL condItioNs Of THe uNiverse. tHe HORizoNtAl CurvEs cOrRespoNd to DIffErent hiStories of The UNiveRsE. DIfferenT histories of tHe Universe caNnOt oVerlap AT Any point In time. Fixing an initial coNDition oF thE univErse Fixes a uniQue HistorY of THe univErse. 6 FiGure 5: STrOngLY DeterMINiStiC lAws of physiCS. x0 reFers tO tHe unIque iniTial condition allowED by The laws. The horIzoNtal CURvE reFErS To tHe UNiqUE History of the uniVerse allowEd BY tHe laws. The lAWs cOmPletely Fix the hIstorY Of the unIverse. the Sense that ThE forMER buT not the latTer uniquEly determINes thE EnTire hIstOry of tHe UniVerse Given tHE dyNamicAl laws AnD a specIficaTiOn of the mAterial ontology at some tiMe (or soMe durAtiOn of time). IN a uNIveRse governEd by DeterminisTic LawS of phYsiCS, fixiNg thE InItiAL condItioN Of the univERsE is SUFfIcient to fix THE EntIre hiStoRY of the UnivErse. However, informATion about the exAct iNITiaL coNDitiOn Itself is not conTaiNeD IN any stanDaRd law of physIcs. UsualLy IT is thE distrIbutioN of the fUNDaMEntal mAterIal Ontology, nOt tHe LAws, that SpEcIFy the cOmplEtE initiAl condITion. aFTer all, usually the Exact INItial COndItion Is Too compLIcatEd
 laws. If the laws are ind eterminist ic (s eeFig ur e 3) , th en given a com p lete  state of the universe  at s om e  tim e  ( or so me dura t io n ofti me ),th e  l aws c anallow m ultiple di ffe re nt pasts and fu tures of t heuniverse. In  ot her wo rd s,d iffer ent  hist oriesc an ove rlap. Ifth e  lawsa lso ass i g nobje ctive probabiliti e so r chances to t he his to r ie s ,  th engiven a co mp letes tate of th e u niv e rse at some t ime, the la w s a ssignauni q ue pro babil it y  di stributionover  future ( or pas t ) histo r ies. If  the l aws  ar e de t er mi nis ti c  (s e eFig u re4), then  g iv en acomp l e t e  sta teof t he un iverse at som e t ime( orsomedurat ionof  time ), the  laws  a llow only one p astand one f utu re  of  t he un i verse.  In  ot her wor ds, dif f ere nt h i st ories cannot overl ap : no  two dis tincth is to r ies of t he  un iver s e  canover l ap  (be exa ctly t h esa me in t er ms ofth e d ist ribut i on o f micr ophysica l pro p erties and ont o logies) at an y  p o i nt in t ime . Hence, th e de t ermi nist i cthe o ry ca n bemo r ei nformative than anin determ inist ic theory in5 Figure 3 : I ndetermi nist i cl aws of physics . X0– X8 refer t o  differe nt in itial co nditionso f  the uni ver se.  (H ere t he  illustration i s sc he matic.Usu ally th ere  ar e i nfi ni tely many  possibl ein it ia l c ondit i ons.) Th ehor iz ont al cu r ves co rresp ondto  d i ffe rent hi s to r i es o fth e un ive rs e. Di ffer e nthistori es of the  un i vers eca n overl ap at some ti me  and diver ge  la ter. F i x ing an i nitial condition of the univers e d oes n ot f ix a uniq uehistor y o f  the u nivers e. Fi gu re4 :  Dete r m in ist ic  laws of p h y sic s. X0 –X 8 re fer todifferent initialc ond itions of the  un iver s e .The ho r izo nt a l c u r ves correspondto differe nt hi stories of the  u niverse . Diffe renth istorie s of theuniverseca nnot o ver lap at any  point i n time. F i xinga niniti alcondit io n o f the  unive r sefixes  a uni qu e hist ory o fthe univ erse. 6 Figure 5: Stron gly de termi nis tic lawsofp hys ics. X0 r efer s to the u niq ueiniti alc ondit iona ll owe d  by t he l a ws. The h o ri zon t a lcurve refer s t o t he un iqu e  histo ry o f the universe al l owed by the la ws.T h e l aws comp le tely fix the h ist or y of the u ni verse. thesense th at the f ormerbut no t the l a t te r  uniqu elydet ermines t heen t ire his to ry of the  uni ve rse gi ven th e  dyn a m ical laws and aspeci f i catio n  of  thema terialo ntol ogy at som e time (orsome d urat ion o f time) .In a u niv er se governe d  by deter minis tic law sof p hys ics, f ixin g the i niti al  co ndition o f th e  u ni v ers e is  suff ic ient  to fix t h e entire  hi s tory of  t heu n iverse .  H o w ever, info rma tiona b out the ex a ct i n it i al co nditio n itse lf is n o t c on tainedina n y standar d law ofp hys ic s. U sually i tis t he  di st ribution of the  fundame ntal mat e r ial on tol o gy,n ot the  l aws, that sp ecify  t h e compl e t e i nitialc ond iti on.  Aft erall, usually the exact initia l co nditi o n i s too  comp li cated
 laws._If the_laws are indeterministic (see_Figure 3),_then_given a_complete_state of the_universe at some_time (or some duration_of time), the_laws_can allow multiple different pasts and futures of the universe. In other words, different_histories_can overlap._If_the_laws also assign objective probabilities_or chances to the histories,_then given_a complete state of the universe at some_time,_the laws assign_a unique probability distribution over future (or past) histories._If the laws are deterministic (see_Figure 4), then_given_a_complete state of the_universe at some time (or some_duration of time), the laws allow_only one past and one future of_the universe. In other words, different_histories cannot overlap: no two_distinct histories_of the universe can overlap_(be exactly the_same in_terms of the_distribution of microphysical properties and ontologies)_at any point_in time. Hence, the deterministic theory_can_be more informative_than_an_indeterministic theory_in 5 Figure_3:_Indeterministic laws_of_physics. X0–X8 refer to different initial_conditions_of the universe. (Here the illustration is_schematic. Usually there are_infinitely_many possible initial conditions.)_The horizontal curves correspond to_different histories of the universe. Different_histories of_the universe_can overlap at some time and diverge later. Fixing an initial_condition of the universe does not_fix a unique history_of the_universe._Figure 4: Deterministic_laws_of physics._X0–X8 refer to different initial conditions of_the universe._The horizontal curves correspond to different_histories of the universe._Different_histories of the universe cannot overlap_at any point in time. Fixing_an initial condition of the_universe_fixes_a unique history of the_universe. 6 Figure 5: Strongly deterministic_laws of physics._X0 refers to the unique initial condition_allowed_by the laws. The horizontal curve_refers_to the unique history of the_universe_allowed_by the laws. The laws_completely fix the history of the_universe. the sense that the former but not the_latter uniquely determines_the entire history of the_universe_given_the dynamical laws and a specification of the material ontology_at some_time (or some_duration of time). In a universe governed by deterministic laws_of physics, fixing the initial condition of_the universe is sufficient to fix the entire history of the_universe. However, information about the exact initial condition_itself is not contained in any standard_law of physics. Usually_it_is the distribution of the fundamental material_ontology,_not_the_laws, that specify_the complete initial_condition. After all,_usually the_exact initial condition_is too_complicated