Analyse
The exact phrase appears in Einstein’s letter to Born on **December 4, 1926**, where he critiques the indeterministic interpretation of quantum theory. The original German reads: *'Der Alte würfelt nicht'* (literally, 'The Old One does not play dice'), later popularized in English as the quoted statement. While often paraphrased, the sentiment and core wording are accurately attributed to Einstein in this context. The letter is archived and widely cited in historical and scientific literature.
Achtergrond
Einstein’s remark reflects his philosophical opposition to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which introduced inherent randomness at the subatomic level. His debate with Born (a proponent of probabilistic quantum theory) was part of a broader scientific discourse in the 1920s–30s, culminating in the famous **Einstein-Bohr debates**. The phrase has since become iconic, symbolizing the tension between determinism and indeterminism in physics.
Samenvatting verdict
Albert Einstein did write in a 1926 letter to Max Born that 'God does not play dice,' expressing his skepticism of quantum mechanics' probabilistic nature.