Editing Determinism (section)

{{Short description|Philosophical view that events are determined by prior events}}
{{About|the general notion of determinism in philosophy}}
{{Distinguish|Fatalism|Predeterminism|Predictability|Theological determinism}}
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'''Determinism''' is the [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] view that all events within the [[universe]] (or [[multiverse]]) can occur only in one possible way.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Determinism {{!}} Definition, Philosophers, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/determinism |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have developed from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and considerations. Like [[Eternalism (philosophy of time)|eternalism]], determinism focuses on particular events rather than the future as a concept. Determinism is often contrasted with [[free will]], although some philosophers claim that the two are [[compatibilism|compatible]].<ref name="Franklin">{{cite book |author=Franklin |first=Richard Langdon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51wIAQAAIAAJ |title=Freewill and Determinism: A Study of Rival Conceptions of Man |publisher=Routledge & K. Paul |year=1968 |isbn=978-0710031570 |location=London, New York |oclc=42756}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Conceptually |date=20 January 2019 |title=Determinism – Explanation and examples |url=https://conceptually.org/concepts/determinism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207103532/https://conceptually.org/concepts/determinism |archive-date=February 7, 2025 |access-date=20 January 2019 |work=conceptually.org}}</ref> A more extreme [[antonym]] of determinism is [[indeterminism]], or the view that events are not deterministically caused but rather occur due to random chance.

Historically, debates about determinism have involved many philosophical positions and given rise to multiple varieties or interpretations of determinism. One topic of debate concerns the scope of determined systems. Some philosophers have maintained that the entire universe is a single determinate system, while others identify more limited determinate systems. Another common debate topic is whether determinism and free will can coexist; [[compatibilism]] and [[incompatibilism]] represent the opposing sides of this debate.

Determinism should not be confused with the [[Self-determination theory|self-determination]] of human actions by reasons, motives, and desires. Determinism is about interactions which affect cognitive processes in people's lives.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ismael|first=Jenann|date=2019-10-01|title=Determinism, Counterpredictive Devices, and the Impossibility of Laplacean Intelligences|url=https://academic.oup.com/monist/article/102/4/478/5567128|journal=The Monist|language=en|volume=102|issue=4|pages=478–498|doi=10.1093/monist/onz021|issn=0026-9662|url-access=subscription}}</ref> It is about the cause and the result of what people 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, then 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.