Determinism
noun
The belief that every action, decision, and event is the result of something else. It can't be changed.
The philosopher's theory of determinism stated that each choice we make has already been determined by our life experiences.
Often appears as...
- philosophical determinism
- soft determinism
noun
In physics, determinism is the idea that the universe's state at a certain time could predict its state at any other time.
Quantum mechanics brought about a significant challenge to classical determinism.
Often appears as...
- classical determinism
- quantum determinism
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In psychology, determinism is the idea that all behavior is caused by certain forces, like genetics or the environment.
The psychologist strongly followed the principle of determinism, believing that the child's behavior could be explained by his upbringing.
Often appears as...
- psychological determinism
- environmental determinism
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The belief that every action, decision, and event is the result of something else. It can't be changed.
The philosopher's theory of determinism stated that each choice we make has already been determined by our life experiences.
Often appears as...
- philosophical determinism
- soft determinism
noun
In physics, determinism is the idea that the universe's state at a certain time could predict its state at any other time.
Quantum mechanics brought about a significant challenge to classical determinism.
Often appears as...
- classical determinism
- quantum determinism
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In psychology, determinism is the idea that all behavior is caused by certain forces, like genetics or the environment.
The psychologist strongly followed the principle of determinism, believing that the child's behavior could be explained by his upbringing.
Often appears as...
- psychological determinism
- environmental determinism
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Inevitability
Determinism suggests that events are inevitable and not a result of free will or chance.
Her belief in determinism made her think our meeting was inevitable, not just luck.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Context
Determinism is often discussed regarding choices and morality, raising questions about responsibility.
He studied determinism to understand if people could be morally responsible.
Pro Tip 3/3Soft vs. Hard
Soft determinism accepts free will to some extent, whereas hard determinism rejects it completely.
Despite her deterministic views, she believed in free will, aligning with soft determinism.
Pro Tip 1/3Inevitability
Determinism suggests that events are inevitable and not a result of free will or chance.
Her belief in determinism made her think our meeting was inevitable, not just luck.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Context
Determinism is often discussed regarding choices and morality, raising questions about responsibility.
He studied determinism to understand if people could be morally responsible.
Pro Tip 3/3Soft vs. Hard
Soft determinism accepts free will to some extent, whereas hard determinism rejects it completely.
Despite her deterministic views, she believed in free will, aligning with soft determinism.
Pro Tip 1/3Inevitability
Determinism suggests that events are inevitable and not a result of free will or chance.
Her belief in determinism made her think our meeting was inevitable, not just luck.
Pro Tip 2/3Philosophical Context
Determinism is often discussed regarding choices and morality, raising questions about responsibility.
He studied determinism to understand if people could be morally responsible.
Pro Tip 3/3Soft vs. Hard
Soft determinism accepts free will to some extent, whereas hard determinism rejects it completely.
Despite her deterministic views, she believed in free will, aligning with soft determinism.
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Video examples
How civilization could...
that our decisions today will determine what kind of balls we pull out of that urn. I mean, if we just keep inventing, like, eventually we will pull out all the balls. I mean, I think there's a kind of weak form of technological determinism that is quite plausible,
Video examples
How civilization could...
that our decisions today will determine what kind of balls we pull out of that urn. I mean, if we just keep inventing, like, eventually we will pull out all the balls. I mean, I think there's a kind of weak form of technological determinism that is quite plausible,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Stuart Hall
British Activist
I got involved in cultural studies because I didn't think life was purely economically determined. I took all this up as an argument with economic determinism. I lived my life as an argument with Marxism, and with neoliberalism. Their point is that, in the last instance, economy will determine it. But when is the last instance?
Quote examples
Kevin DeYoung
American Theologian
Many of us think in terms in parental determinism: 'If I push all the right buttons my kids are going to turn out OK.' I want to instill in myself and my people a wonderful dose, not of carelessness, but of God's sovereignty. He knows the hairs on your kids' heads.
Quote examples
Freeman Dyson
American Physicist
I don't believe in technological determinism, especially not in biology and medicine. We have strong laws to keep doctors from monkeying around with humans that will remain in place. It's simply not true that everything that is technologically possible gets done.
Quote examples
John Cornwell
British Journalist
I find it significant that, even though contemporary philosophy tends towards forms of determinism, in the wider culture people are deeply into naming, shaming and blaming each other. So we haven't lost that sense of conscience.
Quote examples
Joan Didion
American Author
To those of us who remained committed mainly to the exploration of moral distinctions and ambiguities, the feminist analysis may have seemed a particularly narrow and cracked determinism.
Quote examples
Georg C. Lichtenberg
German Scientist
Man is a masterpiece of creation if for no other reason than that, all the weight of evidence for determinism notwithstanding, he believes he has free will.
Quote examples
Ken MacLeod
Scottish Writer
The idea of determinism combined with complete human responsibility struck me as very hard to reconcile with an idea of justice, let alone mercy.
Quote examples
George W. Romney
American Politician
Too often we shape our public positions on the basis of our economic connections. That brings us dangerously close to economic determinism.
Quote examples
Jawaharlal Nehru
Indian Leader
Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.
Quote examples
Susan Griffin
American Writer
In one sense I feel that my book is a one-woman argument against determinism.
Quote examples
Stuart Hall
British Activist
I got involved in cultural studies because I didn't think life was purely economically determined. I took all this up as an argument with economic determinism. I lived my life as an argument with Marxism, and with neoliberalism. Their point is that, in the last instance, economy will determine it. But when is the last instance?
Quote examples
Kevin DeYoung
American Theologian
Many of us think in terms in parental determinism: 'If I push all the right buttons my kids are going to turn out OK.' I want to instill in myself and my people a wonderful dose, not of carelessness, but of God's sovereignty. He knows the hairs on your kids' heads.
Quote examples
Freeman Dyson
American Physicist
I don't believe in technological determinism, especially not in biology and medicine. We have strong laws to keep doctors from monkeying around with humans that will remain in place. It's simply not true that everything that is technologically possible gets done.
Quote examples
John Cornwell
British Journalist
I find it significant that, even though contemporary philosophy tends towards forms of determinism, in the wider culture people are deeply into naming, shaming and blaming each other. So we haven't lost that sense of conscience.
Quote examples
Joan Didion
American Author
To those of us who remained committed mainly to the exploration of moral distinctions and ambiguities, the feminist analysis may have seemed a particularly narrow and cracked determinism.
Quote examples
Georg C. Lichtenberg
German Scientist
Man is a masterpiece of creation if for no other reason than that, all the weight of evidence for determinism notwithstanding, he believes he has free will.
Quote examples
Ken MacLeod
Scottish Writer
The idea of determinism combined with complete human responsibility struck me as very hard to reconcile with an idea of justice, let alone mercy.
Quote examples
George W. Romney
American Politician
Too often we shape our public positions on the basis of our economic connections. That brings us dangerously close to economic determinism.
Quote examples
Jawaharlal Nehru
Indian Leader
Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.
Quote examples
Susan Griffin
American Writer
In one sense I feel that my book is a one-woman argument against determinism.
Example 1 of 10
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