determinism
dih-TUR-mi-niz-uhm
/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪzəm/
The doctrine that all events, including human choices, are completely determined by previously existing causes.
In psychology, hard determinism asserts that free will is an illusion because behavior is dictated by biology or environment.
The story behind the word. Traced to Latin 'terminare' (to set limits or boundaries). The suffix '-ism' turned the idea of fixed boundaries into the belief that human destiny is bounded by cause and effect.
Word relationships
- fatalism: Fatalism attributes events to unavoidable destiny, whereas determinism attributes them to prior natural cause and effect.
- predetermination: Predetermination implies a conscious decider set events ahead of time; determinism relies on natural causal laws.
- free will: Free will is the power of making choices unconstrained by external or prior causes.
- indeterminism: Indeterminism holds that some events are not caused by prior states.
Commonly confused with
- determination: Determination is personal grit and willpower; determinism is the belief that choices are fully caused by prior events.
Word family
- deterministic (adjective): Relating to or based on determinism.
- determinist (noun): A person who believes in determinism.
Collocations
- hard determinism
- biological determinism
- environmental determinism
- strict determinism
Example sentences
- "Strict psychological determinism claims that every action you take is the inevitable result of past conditioning and genetics." Behavioral Psychology
- "Debates over determinism often hinge on whether human consciousness can break free from physical cause and effect." Philosophy of Mind
Memory hook
If every path is DETERMINED beforehand, free choice has no room to wander. DETERMINE limits = everything is set in advance.
When not to use
Do not confuse with personal determination or drive; determinism is a philosophical stance on causality.
Fun facts
- B.F. Skinner was a radical determinist who argued that reward schedules could entirely predict human choice.
Related words
Explore more words
causality, fatalistic, destiny, absolutism, inevitable, metaphysical
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.