In the dynamical laws approach, the state of any system can be described as the result of an evolution, according to dynamical laws, starting from an initial state. The initial state of a system must be provided by fiat. If we wish to explain why the initial state is how it is under the PC, we can only explain it as the result of evolution from a previous initial state. If we wish to explain that state, we again must explain it in terms of evolution from an even earlier state. Tracing this process back leads us to the initial state of the universe (or alternatively, there is no initial state of the universe and we keep tracing back forever). But what is the initial state of the universe, and why is the way that it is?
For practical purposes, that isn’t a problem....it you launched a projectile, you know its angle and speed.
For philosophical purposes, it’s a considerable problem because, as you say, everything traces back to an ultimate initial state that can’t be accounted for. So the rationalist (old definition) dream of figuring out everything from obvious axioms (or no axioms) is not fulfilled.
I don’t see how constructor theory can specify a unique initial state, rather than just cutting down the possibilities.
In fact, thats a general problem. Physics contains laws specifying that things happen necessarily, ie. deterministically , and probabilistically, ie. with different levels of possibility. I don’t see how a mere distinction between the possible and the impossible could generate either.
For practical purposes, that isn’t a problem....it you launched a projectile, you know its angle and speed.
For philosophical purposes, it’s a considerable problem because, as you say, everything traces back to an ultimate initial state that can’t be accounted for. So the rationalist (old definition) dream of figuring out everything from obvious axioms (or no axioms) is not fulfilled.
I don’t see how constructor theory can specify a unique initial state, rather than just cutting down the possibilities.
In fact, thats a general problem. Physics contains laws specifying that things happen necessarily, ie. deterministically , and probabilistically, ie. with different levels of possibility. I don’t see how a mere distinction between the possible and the impossible could generate either.