The physical world is entirely deterministic

the verdict

REFUTED

the evidence says no

Recorded sources

0 sources for · 4 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that the physical world is entirely deterministic?

No. Modern physical and philosophical frameworks, particularly regarding quantum mechanics and complex biological systems, challenge the notion that the physical world is entirely deterministic.

Verdict: REFUTED · 0 sources for, 4 against · Last checked 4 Aug 2026

The analysis

The claim states that the physical world is entirely deterministic. Multiple retrieved papers explicitly reject strict determinism, pointing to low-level indeterminacy in biology and potentiality realism or variability in physics. Therefore, the evidence clearly refutes the claim.

Evidence against · 4

Naturalising Agent Causation.

2022

Argues for low-level indeterminacy and naturalized agent causation within living systems.

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HD, P. & KJ, M. (2022). Naturalising Agent Causation.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/e24040472

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More against · 3

Free Will as Defined by the Constrained Disorder Principle: a Restricted, Mandatory, Personalized, Regulated Process for Decision-Making.

2024

Proposes that human behavior and choices are not predetermined, but reflect ongoing adaptation and underlying variability.

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Y, I. (2024). Free Will as Defined by the Constrained Disorder Principle: a Restricted, Mandatory, Personalized, Regulated Process for Decision-Making.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-024-09853-9

Potentiality realism: a realistic and indeterministic physics based on propensities.

2023

Proposes a realistic and fundamental indeterminism based on intrinsic propensities in physics.

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F, D. S. & N, G. (2023). Potentiality realism: a realistic and indeterministic physics based on propensities.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-023-00561-6

Agential realism as an alternative philosophy of science perspective for quantitative psychology.

2024

Assumes and discusses indeterminacy as a feature of physical and psychological phenomena, contrasting with strict determinism.

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J, S. (2024). Agential realism as an alternative philosophy of science perspective for quantitative psychology.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1410047

Related receipts

Is it true that humans possess a priori knowledge about the physical world? CONTESTED PARTIAL related question, same topic
Is it true that everything in the physical world is subject to entropy? SUPPORTED related question, same topic
Is it true that infinity exists as a physical property in the real world? REFUTED related question, same topic

What does the evidence say?

Receipt History

first checked04 Aug 2026

judged → REFUTED · 704 Aug 2026

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