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Determinism for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: dɪ'tɜrmə,nɪzəm

What does Determinism really mean?

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Alright, so, let's talk about this word "determinism." It's a pretty big word, but don't worry, I'm here to break it down for you. Determinism is the belief that everything that happens is caused by something else, and that there's no such thing as random chance. It's like, imagine a line of dominoes all set up in a row, and when you push the first one, it knocks down all the rest in a certain order. That's kind of how determinism works - every event is like a domino falling because of the one before it.

Now, there are a couple of different ways people think about determinism. Some people believe in "hard determinism," which says that our actions are completely determined by things that happened before. Then there's "soft determinism," which says that even if things are determined, we still have some freedom to make choices. It's a bit like being on a river - the current might be carrying us in a certain direction, but we still have some control over how we paddle our boat.

So, when we talk about determinism, we're really getting into some deep ideas about cause and effect, and how much control we really have over what happens to us. It's a big concept, but I hope this explanation helps you understand it better!

Revised and Fact checked by William Rodriguez on 2023-11-15 07:15:48

Determinism In a sentece

Learn how to use Determinism inside a sentece

  • Determinism is the idea that everything that happens is caused by something else. For example, if a ball is thrown, determinism says that the path it takes and where it lands is determined by the force and angle at which it was thrown.
  • In history, determinism can be seen when we study events like World War II. Historians might argue that certain factors like economic conditions and political alliances determined the outcome of the war.
  • In psychology, determinism is evident when we consider how behavior is influenced by genetics and environmental factors. For example, a person's predisposition to anxiety disorders might be determined by their genetic makeup and upbringing.
  • In philosophy, determinism is debated in relation to free will. Some philosophers argue that our actions are determined by external factors, while others believe in the possibility of free will and choice.
  • In science, determinism is seen in the laws of physics. For example, the motion of planets and the behavior of atoms are determined by fundamental laws like gravity and electromagnetic forces.

Determinism Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Determinism Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

Determinism Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.