Determinism is the philosophical idea that every event, including human actions, is caused by previous events and could not have happened differently. It suggests that, given the past and the laws of nature, the future is fixed.
From "determine" plus the noun-forming suffix "-ism." "Determine" comes from Latin "determinare" meaning "to decide" or "set limits." The term became common in philosophy in the 18th–19th centuries.
Determinism treats the universe like a giant chain reaction—if you rewound time and hit play again, the same things would happen. It raises unsettling questions: if everything is determined, what does it really mean to choose or be responsible?
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.