Pre-determinism

Pre-determinism is the philosophical doctrine that all events, including human actions, are causally determined by events that occurred prior to them. It posits that the future is already fixed and unchangeable, either through divine decree, natural laws, or other pre-existing forces. Free will, therefore, is an illusion. This contrasts with free will's belief that individuals possess the capacity to choose their actions, influencing their future. Pre-determinism often considers any sense of agency or personal responsibility to be a misunderstanding of the true nature of reality, where events are merely playing out a script written long ago.

Pre-determinism meaning with examples

• John argued that everything from economic crashes to artistic inspiration was pre-determined, a long chain of cause and effect that left no room for chance. He believed that individual choices were mere appearances of agency within this framework, a compelling illusion. Therefore, judging others became pointless because every action was a necessary outcome of previous events.
• Sarah, grappling with a difficult situation, contemplated pre-determinism. If her mistakes were inevitable, a result of pre-existing conditions, how could she bear the guilt? Could she still strive for improvement if the ultimate outcome was already decided? This line of thought offered both a chilling comfort and profound existential angst.
• The religious scholar expounded on the concept of Pre-determinism through divine decree, stating that God knew all future events. This implies that human choices are already known and cannot alter the divine plan. Thus, faith, according to this perspective, involves acceptance of a life crafted by a higher power.
• Critics of the criminal justice system sometimes invoke pre-determinism. They argue that someone born into poverty and exposed to crime is, in some ways, pre-determined to commit offenses. This argument poses challenges to the standard notions of punishment and rehabilitation and the moral responsibility of wrong doing.
• Scientists exploring the implications of quantum mechanics have also engaged with the idea of pre-determinism. The chaotic nature of quantum events may suggest an element of uncertainty that could be incompatible with strict pre-determinism. This debate highlights the deep connection between physics and philosophy.