What Does “God Doesn’t Play Dice” Actually Mean?

Contrary to popular opinion, Einstein made this statement. Not to indicate that you believe in Godperhaps in an approach that most people cannot predict, to oppose quantum theory and to convey the idea that the particles of an atom cannot move in irregular ways.

This maxim and Albert Einstein’s point of view Let’s dig deeper.

In a 1926 letter to Max Born, one of the founders of quantum mechanics, Einstein says:

“Quantum theory promises a lot, but it doesn’t get us any closer to the secrets of the Eternal. I’m convinced that he doesn’t play dice with the universe, anyway.” In fact, the concepts of “Eternal” and “He” mentioned in this statement of Einstein are God. In line with the phrase “God does not play dice” with two different approaches It would be correct to handle.

The first is that this scientist believes that the quantum, which includes nature and the universe, is completely random, that is, events occur only by chance. does not believe in quantum mechanics. The second is Einstein’s views on religion and God.

To understand this statement more clearly, let’s look at quantum physics.

Quantum physics is one of the most fundamental reflections of modern physics and even if we are not aware of it. It finds its place in most of the technology that makes our lives easier.. Transistors, which play an important role in the operation of mobile phones or computers, and nuclear energy, which provides energy production with nuclear reactors, take the lead in this sense.

It is also widely used in the diagnosis of diseases. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and myopia treatment Quantum theory is also the basis of the lasers used.

This broad physical theory was developed in the 1920s and allowed us to reach that “unseen” that we could not see with the naked eye or with tools.

That is, to explain the physical properties and structure of atoms, to better understand nuclear reactions or phenomena such as particles colliding in an accelerator, and again enable us to examine the elements more comprehensively.It would not be wrong to say that we owe it to quantum physics.

Einstein, on the other hand, criticizes different aspects of quantum mechanics as a theory by saying that “God does not play dice”.

German Physicist Karl Werner Heisenberg

Although most of the universe is measurable and deterministic, quantum mechanics states that everything is based on tiny particles and the universe is governed by this randomness. What is striking at this point is If quantum physics is such a useful theory, why didn’t Einstein agree with it?.

First of all, quantum physics can’t actually predict anything with exact limits. This branch of physics basically, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principlebased on what. In this principle, it is said that the position of a particle and its momentum, which is the velocity a particle can reach depending on its mass, cannot be measured simultaneously. Also, the acceleration of high-mass objects depends on a high momentum.

For example, even if it is possible to know the position of a nanocar composed of atoms developed in the nanotechnology industry, we cannot know its momentum relative to the quantum.

Even if the vehicle goes fast or continues its course slowly, there will be no change in this sense. In short, according to quantum physics, nothing is certain and only just as it is possible to know how many possibilities there are for a 6 to be rolled when the dice are rolled. how likely it is that an event will occur.

Einstein does not agree with this idea of ​​uncertainty, and according to him The physical properties of each particle or event must be measured with high precision.. In this direction, quantum physics does not allow this. It just says how likely it is for a system of particles to behave in a certain way, but does not say how each particle in that system will behave.

Einstein, which encompasses nature and the universe did not accept this type of randomness and uncertainty. and expressed his opinion on the subject with the sentence “God does not play dice”.

The other approach, perhaps the one that confuses most people with what they’ve heard here and there: Einstein’s views on religion.

Einstein, who was brought up according to Jewish traditions and did not continue his religious practices after the intense religiousness he was in in his youth, as he stated in an interview in 1929. was not an atheist.

This scientist believed strongly in God, but own views on religion There was also. He explains his thoughts in the first place by saying that God is everywhere and in everything, and therefore he finds himself close to Spinoza’s view of Pantheism. In other words, he did not believe in religions that had holy books and were referred to as divine religions.

Einstein; He stated that he clearly saw God in the order and rationality of the universe and nature with all its aspects and explained this as “cosmic religion”. For this reason too stated that randomness and chaos are not part of nature. and he expressed it as “God does not play dice”.