Determinism vs. Randomness: The False Dichotomy That Makes Us Miss the Point

by Claudio Bresciano

There’s a question that keeps coming back — across philosophy, physics, and late-night conversations:

Is everything determined… or is the world random?

It sounds like a forced choice. But it’s a conceptual trap — because it offers only two options where a third, crucial piece is missing.

1. The Deterministic World (the illusion of a single trajectory)

The classical view — associated with Isaac Newton and, in a different way, Albert Einstein — says:

If you knew the exact state of the universe at one moment, you could predict the entire future.

One possible story. One timeline.

That’s what we usually call “destiny.”

The problem? Even if this were true, we can’t actually compute it. Chaos, extreme sensitivity to initial conditions… determinism may exist, but it’s practically unusable.

2. The Random World (the illusion that everything is noise)

With quantum mechanics came a different idea:

The world is not fully determined. Some events are fundamentally probabilistic.

This view is closely associated with Niels Bohr.

And from there, a modern narrative emerges:

• no destiny
• everything is probability
• the future doesn’t “exist” until it happens

But there’s a serious issue:

• calling something random doesn’t actually explain it

It just means:

we don’t know (or can’t derive) what will happen.

3. The Blind Spot: when there is more than one possibility

Both determinism and randomness avoid an uncomfortable question:

What happens when there are multiple possible futures?

Imagine a system where, from the same initial state, several valid trajectories can emerge.

This isn’t science fiction. It shows up in:

• nonlinear systems
• chaotic dynamics
• certain physical models
• even artificial intelligence

At that point, something important happens:

• the system no longer has a uniquely defined evolution.

4. What we call “randomness” is often something else

When multiple trajectories exist and we have no way to choose between them, we do something very human:

we call it “random.”

But that may just be a projection.

Not because the world is inherently chaotic — but because:

we lack access to whatever selects one possibility over the others.

5. The Third Option: multiplicity + selection

Here’s a more precise way to look at it:

• Sometimes there’s only one trajectory → it looks like “destiny”
• Sometimes there are many → and that’s where the real problem begins

And that problem is not randomness.

It is this:

what selects one trajectory among many?

6. A simple example

Imagine a ball sitting on a hill with two valleys:

• it can fall to the left
• or to the right

Both trajectories are valid.

Physics describes the system — but at some point:

• tiny perturbations decide the outcome

From inside the system, that looks like “randomness.”

From the outside, it’s simply:

a selection among available alternatives.

7. Artificial intelligence: the same phenomenon

Modern generative AI systems work the same way:

• they receive an input
• they have multiple possible outputs

To choose one, they use probability.

But that’s not “magical creativity.”

It’s:

a way to force a decision when many valid options exist.

8. And what about free will?

This is where things get interesting.

Many argue:

• if everything is determined → no freedom
• if everything is random → no freedom either

And they’re right.

But there’s a third perspective:

free will isn’t randomness… it may be the capacity to select among multiple possibilities.

Not everything is pre-written. Not everything is noise.

It may be that:

there are moments when the future is not fixed — and something (or someone) chooses.

9. So… destiny or randomness?

The best answer isn’t to pick one.

It’s to change the question.

Instead of asking:

Is the world deterministic or random?

Ask:

• Is there only one possible trajectory?
• Or are there many?

And if there are many:

what makes one happen instead of the others?

10. The idea that ties it all together

“Destiny” is the case where only one path is possible. “Randomness” is what we perceive when there are many — and we don’t know how one is chosen. Reality likely lives somewhere in between.

Closing

The debate between determinism and randomness has been going on for centuries.

But the mistake may have always been the same:

trying to choose between two options.

When the real issue lies elsewhere:

• the multiplicity of possible futures — and the mystery of how one is selected.