In classical terms, non-deterministic refers to situations where the outcome of a given process or event cannot be predicted with certainty, even if all the initial conditions are known. In a deterministic system, knowing the initial conditions allows us to precisely determine the future state of the system using the laws of classical physics.
However, in non-deterministic systems, there is inherent randomness or uncertainty involved in the behavior of the system. This means that even if we have complete knowledge of the initial conditions, we cannot accurately predict the future state of the system. The outcome may follow various possible paths or have different potential results.
One way to illustrate non-determinism is through a simple example like rolling a fair six-sided die. When you roll the die, the outcome is uncertain. Even if you know all the details about the initial conditions, such as the force of your throw, the angle, or the initial position of the die, you cannot predict the exact number that will appear on the top face when it lands. The outcome is random and can be any number from 1 to 6.
Non-determinism can arise from various factors, such as inherent stochastic processes, chaotic behavior, or the presence of randomness in the system. It is important to note that non-determinism in classical systems is distinct from the inherent randomness observed at the quantum level, which is described by quantum theory and the principles of quantum mechanics.