FWIW, I tend to use stochastic to mean a process with a collection of variables, some of which are (pseudo) randomly set and some of which are not. A "random process" would imply a process where either all the variables are random OR where the randomly set variables are dominant. A process can be stochastic even if the randomness has little effect.
My use of indeterminate is ambiguous. In processes where we're ignorant of how a variable is set, those variables are indeterminate. But I also use it to mean unset variables. E.g. a semaphore that's being polled for a value or state change. But as with stochasticity, a "don't care" variable can be indeterminate without making the whole process indeterminate. On August 8, 2017 11:23:29 PM PDT, Grant Holland <grant.holland...@gmail.com> wrote: >Nick, > >In science, these three terms are generally interchangeable. Their >common usage is that they all describe activities, or "events", that >are >"subject to chance". Such activities, events or processes that are >described by these terms are governed by the laws of probability. They >all describe activities, events, or "happenings" whose repetitions do >not always produce the same outcomes even when given the same inputs >every time (initial conditions). In other words, uncertainty is >involved. > >However, like most words, these enjoy other usage, meanings, as well. >For example "random" is sometimes used to mean "disorganized" or >"lacking in specific pattern". This is a very different meaning than >"activities that don't always produce the same outcome given the same >inputs". Consider what a math formula for each of these tow meanings >wold consist of. One of them would be based on probabilities; but the >other would involve stationary relationships. > >On 8/8/17 5:31 PM, Nick Thompson wrote: >> >> Grant, >> >> I think I know the answer to this question, but want to make sure: >> >> What is the difference beween calling a process “stochastic”, >> “indeterminate”, or “random”? -- ⛧glen⛧ ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove