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The Last Theory · Feb 13, 2025 · 8 min

Is everything determined? with Stephen Wolfram

Is everything that’s ever going to happen in the universe already determined? Or does something else – maybe randomness, maybe free will – play a role? Stephen Wolfram’s answer to this question is straightforward: the ruliad is fully determined. But there’s a twist. The ruliad is determined, but how we observe the evolution of the universe depends on where we are in the ruliad. In a fascinating introduction to the role of the observer in the Wolfram model, Stephen touches on some of the deepest philosophical questions in physics, finishing on one of the deepest: is there an objective reality? — Stephen Wolfram Stephen Wolfram The Wolfram Physics Project Wolfram Institute Wolfram Institute Community Discord — The Last Theory is hosted by Mark Jeffery founder of Open Web Mind I release The Last Theory as a video too! Watch here. Kootenay Village Ventures Inc.

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transcript

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show notes

Is everything that’s ever going to happen in the universe already determined?

Or does something else – maybe randomness, maybe free will – play a role?

Stephen Wolfram’s answer to this question is straightforward: the ruliad is fully determined.

But there’s a twist. The ruliad is determined, but how we observe the evolution of the universe depends on where we are in the ruliad.

In a fascinating introduction to the role of the observer in the Wolfram model, Stephen touches on some of the deepest philosophical questions in physics, finishing on one of the deepest: is there an objective reality?

Stephen Wolfram

The Last Theory is hosted by Mark Jeffery founder of Open Web Mind

I release The Last Theory as a video too! Watch here.

Kootenay Village Ventures Inc.

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