Peirce and Anaximander

[Thomas Eckhardt]

Otto wrote:

> That's easy, but still doesn't explain much about the context of the
> original quote and how it was meant.

Certainly someone else can explain this much better than I can:

According to quantum physics it is impossible to predict the behaviour
of a certain elementary particle (see also Schroedinger's cat and
Heisenberg's principle of uncertainty). Not because we have not yet
acquired the scientific means to do so, but because processes on a
subnuclear level are essentially governed by chance. In terms of world
view this is the end of Newton's clockwork universe: It is not certain
that the apple will fall to the ground, there is just a very high
probability that it will.

Interestingly enough Einstein, who had contributed his share to bringing
down the mechanistic world view, could not accept the notion that the
universe was inherently governed by chance and expressed his dislike for
quantum mechanics with "Der Herrgott wuerfelt nicht."

Needless to say, this is highly important scientific background for some
of Pynchon's themes and leitmotifs.

Thomas