Determinism

Theories of determinism are about decisions and actions being just effects, on the contrary theories of freedom are about there being something more or something else than effects. (Honderich 2005, p. 8) To give just a general meaning of the term determinism is almost impossible, as there are many different definitions in all sorts of doctrines. However a more general world view on determinism is the view that every event has a cause and that everything in the universe is dependent on and governed by causal laws, that it is no more than a chain of events following one after another according to these laws. It is the believe that all of human actions are the result of antecedent factors or causes. Determinists therefore believe that all events, including human actions, are predetermined. Determinism is often considered incompatible with free will (incompatibilist), however some believe that it is compatible or even necessary for free will to be able to exist (compatibilist). 











Sources:

Honderich, T. (2005). On determinism and Freedom. Edinburgh University Press Ltd, Edinburgh.

http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/determin.htm (Accessed 16 October 2010)


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