Definitions for determinism
dɪˈtɜr məˌnɪz əmde·ter·min·ism

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. determinismnoun

   (philosophy) a philosophical theory holding that all events are inevitable consequences of antecedent sufficient causes; often understood as denying the possibility of free will

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. determinismnoun

   The doctrine that all actions are determined by the current state and immutable laws of the universe, with no possibility of choice.

2. determinismnoun

   The property of having behavior determined only by initial state and input.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Determinism

   Determinism is a philosophical view, where all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have developed from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and considerations. The opposite of determinism is some kind of indeterminism (otherwise called nondeterminism) or randomness. Determinism is often contrasted with free will, although some philosophers claim that the two are compatible.Determinism is often used to mean causal determinism, which in physics is known as cause-and-effect. This is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state of an object or event is completely determined by its prior states. This meaning can be distinguished from other varieties of determinism mentioned below. Debates about determinism often concern the scope of determined systems; some maintain that the entire universe is a single determinate system, and others identifying more limited determinate systems (or multiverse). Historical debates involve many philosophical positions and varieties of determinism. They include debates concerning determinism and free will, technically denoted as compatibilistic (allowing the two to coexist) and incompatibilistic (denying their coexistence is a possibility). Determinism should not be confused with the self-determination of human actions by reasons, motives, and desires. Determinism is about interactions which affect our cognitive processes in our life. It is about the cause and the result of what we have done. Cause and result are always bound together in cognitive processes. It assumes that if an observer has sufficient information about an object or human being, that such an observer might be able to predict every consequent move of that object or human being. Determinism rarely requires that perfect prediction be practically possible.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Determinismnoun

   the doctrine that the will is not free, but is inevitably and invincibly determined by motives

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Determinism

   Determinism is a metaphysical philosophical position stating that for everything that happens there are conditions such that, given those conditions, nothing else could happen. "There are many determinisms, depending upon what pre-conditions are considered to be determinative of an event." Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have sprung from diverse motives and considerations, some of which overlap. Some forms of determinism can be tested empirically with ideas stemming from physics and the philosophy of physics. The opposite of determinism is some kind of indeterminism. Determinism is often contrasted with free will. Determinism often is taken to mean simply causal determinism, which in physics is the idea known as cause-and-effect. It is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state is completely determined by prior states. This meaning can be distinguished from other varieties of determinism mentioned below. Other debates often concern the scope of determined systems, with some maintaining that the entire universe is a single determinate system and others identifying other more limited determinate systems. There are numerous historical debates involving many philosophical positions and varieties of determinism. They include debates concerning determinism and free will, technically denoted as compatibilistic and incompatibilistic.

Matched Categories

1. • Philosophical Doctrine
   • Philosophy

How to pronounce determinism?

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How to say determinism in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of determinism in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of determinism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of determinism in a Sentence

1. Jawaharlal Nehru:

   Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; the way you play it is free will.

2. Norman Cousins:

   Free will and determinism are like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism. The way you play your hand is free will.

3. Henry M. Wriston:

   A guidance counselor who has made a fetish of security, or who has unwittingly surrendered his thinking to economic determinism, may steer a youth away from his dream of becoming a poet, an artist, a musician or any other of thousands of things, because it offers no security, it does not pay well, there are no vacancies, it has no future.

4. Sir Arthur Eddington:

   It is impossible to trap modern physics into predicting anything with perfect determinism because it deals with probabilities from the outset.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru:

   Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism the way you play it is free will.

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