Philosophy Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [determinism]

The doctrine that every event has a cause. The main philosophical interest of determinism has been in assessing its implications for free will.

The doctrine that every event's causation can be understood wholly in terms of the consequences of past events or the deterministic will of an all powerful being.

One common version states that for every event, there is an antecedent state, related in such a way that it would break a law of nature for the antecedent state to exist yet the event not to happen.

This is a purely metaphysical claim, and carries no implications for whether we can in principle predict the event - e.g., chaos (i.e., it is not an epistemic claim).

The main philosophical interest of determinism has been in assessing its implications for free will. Thus, it is also often an integral question in philosophy of mind (especially in terms of the relationship of mind and body) and philosophy of religion.

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How should you respond to criminal behavior if you believe in hard determinism?

There are several ideas on hard determinism, but the core seems to be that in an interconnected existence, there can be no "actions" (free will), but only "reactions" (determinism). An action of free will would have to be a separate entity outside…
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Difference between ‘determinism’ and ‘fatalism’

What is the difference between determinism and fatalism?
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Counter Proof to determinism?

I have recently been thinking a lot about determinism and pretty much decided there was no reason to refute it as there was no evidence of free will that I could find. However, a couple of days ago, this thought experiment came to me and it seems to…
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If everything is ruled by determinism, what rules determinism itself?

If everything is ruled by determinism, what rules determinism itself? Has any philosopher ever explored this matter?
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What are some good books that link quantum mechanics with concepts such as fate, coincidence and free will?

I am more interested in a high level conceptual approach than the quantitative one that talks about how quantum mechanics is/is not relevant to concepts such as what I mentioned above, and why. Suggestions and pointers will be very helpful.
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What term describes 'statements about future events can't have a truth value until they occur' & ' what'll happen will happen'?

Source: Benatar, D. The Human Predicament (2017 1 edn). p. 235, for p. 114 Footnote 30. I add this qualification because some people may think that unless determinism is true, [1.] future events cannot have a truth value until they occur. [2.]…
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How could I not think I have free will, yet still have it?

Not everyone thinks free will exists, and from personal experience I don't find freedom of will in my actions or emotions(I suppose I am assuming that's where it's located). It was once something I believed in, but now I don't. If free will exists,…
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Are there any philosophers who believe "If Determinism is true, there are no counterfactual possibilities"?

I am a person who believes that conditional proposition. I am not sure if the theory of everything that describes the world is a deterministic one or not, so it is an open question. But are there any philosophers who believe this, and if so, who was…
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If one accepts hard determinism then why attempt to persuade others based upon that belief?

I was reading an article recently that discussed the Justice Without Retribution Network. While I support their aims, it led me to question what it means to change the criminal justice system if you believe in hard determinism. For me, it comes down…
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How does indeterminism still lead to deterministic laws in the macro world?

Philosophers and many scientists seem to distinguish between the macro and micro world a lot. Things in the micro world seem to be indeterministic, atleast through the standard interpretation of QM. My question is two fold. A) If quantum events are…
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How to solve this paradox about determinism?

I am thinking about this problem : suppose the world is deterministic and there exist an entity "D" able to predict the future based on the knowledge of the state of the world at a given time T (like Laplace deamon). then suppose we engineer an…
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Can determinists take decisions?

For what I understand, determinism is based on the assumption that free will is not possible. So, I would conclude that a determinist has not the power to modify his future, and whatever decision he takes, it is just a consequence of something…
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How does Quantum Mechanics disprove determinism?

I personally believe in determinism and understand the basics of quantum mechanics, but don't see how any of it disproves that the universe is deterministic. Electrons cannot move change momentum or direction of momentum without an outside force, so…
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About Aaron Snyder, The Paradox of Determinism

I am looking at Aaron Snyder's The Paradox of Determinism (American Philosophical Quarterly Vol.9, n.4, Oct. 1970) Is it still discussed? Are his claims and arguments taken in account in present days discussions on free will and determinism?
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Richard Taylor’s determinism

What are the premises he’s stating: …determinism cannot be reconciled with [the fact that] it is sometimes up to me what I am going to do. For if it is ever really up to me whether to do this thing or that, then…each alternative course of action…
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