Determinism
Pronunciation: /dɪˈtɜːrməˌnɪzəm/
Determinism (noun)
- The belief that every event happens because earlier events and laws of nature make only one outcome possible.
- The view that human actions are fully caused by previous events, so free choice cannot exist in a strong sense.
- In science, the idea that knowing the starting conditions and rules lets you calculate future results exactly.
Examples
- Determinism suggests the future is fixed and cannot change.
- Determinism can feel like a fixed future idea for many people.