Aspects of Superdeterminism Made Intuitive

TL;DR

This paper uses a billiard game analogy to clarify superdeterminism, showing it can be practically undetectable yet theoretically more explanatory than other interpretations, countering common objections.

Contribution

It introduces 'strong' and 'soft' superdeterminism concepts and demonstrates their implications through an intuitive billiard analogy, highlighting superdeterminism's explanatory power.

Findings

Superdeterministic correlations can be practically undetectable.

Superdeterminism can coherently answer questions other interpretations cannot.

The analogy clarifies debates and counters objections to superdeterminism.

Abstract

We attempt to make superdeterminism more intuitive, notably by simulating a deterministic model system, a billiard game. In this system an initial 'bang' correlates all events, just as in the superdeterministic universe. We introduce the notions of 'strong' and 'soft' superdeterminism, in order to clarify debates in the literature. Based on the analogy with billiards, we show that superdeterministic correlations may exist as a matter of principle, but be undetectable for all practical purposes. This allows us to counter classical objections to superdeterminism such as the claim that it would be at odds with the scientific method, and with the construction of new theories. Finally, we show that probability theory, as a physical theory, indicates that superdeterminism has a greater explanatory power than its competitors: it can coherently answer questions for which other positions remain powerless.