h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chaos theory shows that in non-linear systems (i.e. in practice, the Universe!) any two *different* initial states, HOWEVER SIMILAR, will lead to different final states. So if you can't measure the difference between these initial states because it's too small then you can't tell what the final state will be - i.e. it seems to exhibit chaotic and unpredictable behaviour. But despite what people often say, the theory doesn't say that the behaviour IS chaotic or random, merely that it appears so to us.
An example is the old 'butterfly flutters its wings in the jungle' thing, where the slightest movement of small fragile wings has an effect on the air around it, which affects the air around the first air, etc., until a week later the whole atmosphere has been affected. Even our slightest movements help determine weather patterns and in turn affects events on a global scale.

(Every time someone dies in a storm anywhere in the World you are partially responsible! Watch out for manslaughter charges!)



I, like you, have also often wondered if there are patterns to the consequences of our actions that are too large and/or complex for us to perceive. Being practical, you could say that if you can't hope to ever 'see' or understand them, why worry?

Sometimes, though, I still can't help wondering.....