Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

What can coin flips tell us?

Flipping a coin multiple times will initially seem to produce a random and meaningless pattern. Heads or tails don't seem to matter.

Yet if we either flip the coin for a long time or have multiple people doing the flipping patterns begin to emerge. We see long streaks of heads or tails.

The cosmos is well arguably infinite and eternal, and it would correspond to many flippers flipping coins for a very long time. Infinite operations (or flips) are performed.

And the long streaks of heads or tails are well arguably likable to creation and destruction happening within the cosmos. Overall balance between them will not negate the idea of order emerging from chaos. To my mind this is proof that a cosmos governed by chance is perfectly capable of producing life without assistance from an intelligent agency.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Spruce · 31-35, M Best Comment

Those are some incredible thoughts, and your post is very well written.

LucyGray · 26-30, F

@Spruce Many thanks. I was afraid it would be ill received.

Spruce · 31-35, M

Thank you for Best Comment! 🙂👍

Spruce · 31-35, M

@LucyGray I understand. I fully agree with you. It was interesting to read.

FCNantes · 22-25, M

Put the right things together & [b]bam![/b], you have life!

JoyfulSilence · 46-50, M

This is a good model for mutation, to build the diversity. But you also need natural selection. Maybe we could model that as adjusting the coin outcome probabilities.

Or think of it as a randomly branching tree that nature prunes. The weak branches wither and die, and the strong flourish.

Ynotisay · M

That's a solid analogy. I've never quite understood why so many feel the need to have it controlled. Particularly by man made deities. It just "is." That should be enough.

LucyGray · 26-30, F

@Ynotisay Thank you. I understand the prejudices and preferences involved. It's like the Mercury astronauts insisting on a window, explosive bolts, and being called pilots.

Disposal · 36-40, M

That's a lot from just flipping a coin. Is it just 50/50 chance, is it increases on one side cause of the weight? Does the surroundings of where the coin drop on make any difference

SW-User

@Disposal I would think that the terrain you're on would make a difference. (I let the coin 2 fall on the ground so nobody says I touched it. The other partie(s) involved see it as it landed.

LucyGray · 26-30, F

@Disposal We have to imagine that the coin flipping is legitimate.

vetguy1991 · 51-55, M

Either it is or it isn't

HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

LucyGray · 26-30, F

@HoraceGreenley A little humor is always welcomed, but my reasoning is sound.

HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

@LucyGray In a manner of speaking, yes.

Add a comment...