Word
determinism
Meanings
The belief that all events, including human actions, are fully caused by earlier events and laws of nature.
In science, the principle that a system’s future state is fixed by its current state and governing laws.
Definition
Determinism is the idea that every event is caused by prior conditions and natural laws.
Determinism is a philosophical view that whatever happens is the result of earlier events and the laws that govern the world. According to this view, given the same past and the same conditions, the outcome could not have been different. People discuss determinism in science, ethics, and debates about free will and responsibility.
Examples
- In his seminar on free will, he argued that determinism makes moral luck impossible to ignore.
- I struggled with determinism at first, but the idea felt clearer once I separated prediction from causation.
- She rejected determinism because she thought it understated how choices shape a person’s character over time.
- They discussed determinism late into the night, weighing how it fits with accountability in everyday life.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse determinism with fatalism, but determinism is about causes and laws, not about unavoidable destiny regardless of actions.
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