Fooled by randomness, finding intelligent patterns in a string of random numbers, has come to attention as a long-standing human activity. On a spectrum of completely constant and predictable at one end to completely random and unpredictable on the other, what lies in between? I suggest, moving from constant on the left to random on the right, lie occasionally random and, further to the right, occasionally constant. As either constancy or randomness is put into or taken out of a system, its exact state fluctuates across the spectrum. Of interest is the speed at which the “needle” moves on the line, and the frequency with which the measurement of where the needle is, is made.
I have only recently come to understand the full importance of Newton's balance of forces through both apparently static objects and constantly moving ones. The massive stone columns supporting medieval churches appear to be still, but that does not mean that there are not massive forces being transmitted through them. The forces, though massive, are in perfect balance. If they are not zero, then by F=ma there is some acceleration which will ultimately cause visible movement, even if only by inches over centuries. Today we see the columns curving that looked straight and non-moving for a very long time. If there is a net F, there is a net “a”.
The same holds true for constant motion objects. A constant velocity car has forces of propulsion and resistance in perfect balance. A frictionless ball in motion would stay in motion forever. That does not mean there is no energy in the car or the system. If the car hits you, the destructive energy imparted to your body is fatal. Again, if there is a net F, there is a net “a” in this moving system.
Is there a net force on the needle on the constant-random measurement line? A person or firm can have investments rules of thumb that work well for periods time? There is constancy to the work that slips away over time? Conversely, are there a series of apparently random numbers that after a billion of them, start to, almost magically, exactly repeat themselves for the next billion in the string and so on thereafter? How quickly the numbers come spitting out and whether or not every instance is recorded or captured, over one day or over several centuries, helps a human in a several decade time frame see patterns earlier or later.
There are phrases in the language for these concept of constancy. You can set your watch by him, her or it. What goes around comes around. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
There are phrases for the opposite ideas of randomness. A stitch in time saves nine. You can pay me now or pay me later, referring to preventive maintenance. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong sooner or later.
Probability tries to put a number to the words. Increased precision comes at a cost of increased complexity. Increased complexity produces more slowly calculated solutions when time may be of the essence. On this line, random is could go either way, fifty percent, in the middle and so on. Certainty is 0% at one end and 100% at the other end, of two different, mutually exclusive outcomes.