determinism
the doctrine that all facts and events exemplify natural laws.
the doctrine that all events, including human choices and decisions, have sufficient causes.
Origin of determinism
1Other words from determinism
- de·ter·min·ist, noun, adjective
- de·ter·min·is·tic [dih-tur-muh-nis-tik] /dɪˌtɜr məˈnɪs tɪk/ adjective
- non·de·ter·min·ist, noun, adjective
Words that may be confused with determinism
- determinism , fatalism, necessitarianism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use determinism in a sentence
The philosophic Determinist would denounce the offender's conduct, but would not denounce the offender.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThe Determinist would say that Bill Sikes had committed a crime, and that he ought to be restrained, and taught better.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThat Determinist conclusion would be followed by the usual inadequate subscription.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordYou may say, in the case of Sikes and the peer, that the logic of the Determinist is sound, but ineffective: nothing comes of it.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordAdmit the Determinist theory, and all would be taught to do well, and most would take kindly to the lesson.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
British Dictionary definitions for determinism
/ (dɪˈtɜːmɪˌnɪzəm) /
Also called: necessitarianism the philosophical doctrine that all events including human actions and choices are fully determined by preceding events and states of affairs, and so that freedom of choice is illusory: Compare free will (def. 1b)
the scientific doctrine that all occurrences in nature take place in accordance with natural laws
the principle in classical mechanics that the values of dynamic variables of a system and of the forces acting on the system at a given time, completely determine the values of the variables at any later time
Derived forms of determinism
- determinist, noun, adjective
- deterministic, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for determinism
In ethics, the view that human actions are entirely controlled by previous conditions, operating under laws of nature. Determinism is often understood as ruling out free will.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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