Single Idea 3441

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism]

Full Idea

An intelligence knowing at an instant the whole universe could know the movement of the largest bodies and atoms in one formula, provided his intellect were powerful enough to subject all data to analysis. Past and future would be present to his eyes.

Gist of Idea

If a supreme intellect knew all atoms and movements, it could know all of the past and the future

Source

Pierre Simon de Laplace (Philosophical Essay on Probability [1820]), quoted by Mark Thornton - Do we have free will? p.70

Book Reference

Thornton,Mark: 'Do We Have Free Will?' [Bristol 1989], p.70