The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines determinism as the “doctrine that human action is not free but determined by motives regarded as external forces acting on the will” (1). Or as philosopher Carl Hoefer explains, determinism is “the idea that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature” (2). Determinism is a philosophical belief system, not a fact or scientifically viable theory or law. It also has its roots traceable to the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus who believed that causal deterministic laws control the motion of atoms, and that everything – including human minds – consists merely of atoms in a void (3).
Put more simply, determinism says that everything we do can be entirely accounted for by two determining factors: heredity and environment. Christian writer John Blanchard explains that “It is easy to see why materialism and determinism go together. If the universe came into being by a process of spontaneous generation, if there was, and is, no transcendent, independent, purposive power acting on it, what we have is a closed, mechanistic universe which is totally predictable. What is more, if we can get a scientific grasp of the make-up of its constituent parts, and work out their relationship to each other, we can describe how the universe will behave” (4).
It is also worth noting that there are different varieties of determinism, as one commentator explains: “There are many determinisms, depending on what pre-conditions are considered to be determinative of an event or action” (5). Notably there is causal determinism (that posits an unbroken chain of prior occurrences stretching back to the origin of the universe), nomological determinism (a common form of causal determinism), theological determinism (that all events that happen are pre-ordained, or predestined, to happen by a monotheistic deity), predeterminism (the idea that all events are determined in advance), fatalism (the idea that everything is fated to happen and humans have no control over their future), as well as logical and adequate determinism. However, determinism, in general, is taken to mean causal determinism.
Further, not many people will deny the fact that some chemical, psychological and sociological factors may affect an individual’s decisions and actions. But given that it still falls well short of determinism which says that all of our decisions and actions are products of determining factors over which we have no control. Blanchard continues his analysis, specifically on the moral front: “The recognition that certain factors affect behaviour leaves room for moral responsibility, whereas determinism obliterates it…” (6). It is true that hard determinism, that denies freewill, is often criticized for seeming to make traditional moral judgments impossible, though some philosophers do accept such a position. Likewise, determinism would seem to undermine purpose and meaning. Since everything is a product of determining forces then what is the point in doing anything if we’re just chemically determined? How can an individual be held responsible for his actions if they are biologically or psychologically determined? Likewise, why, if we are determined, should we trust our thought processes? Philosopher William Lane Craig, evidently doubtful of determinism’s dispelling of human freewill, factors in the following:
“Everyone acknowledges that we have at least the illusion of free will. I take it that my sense of freely choosing is not mere appearance only, since if it were, nothing I think or do is of any significance whatsoever. Even the decision to believe in determinism would be meaningless, no more significant than having a toothache. Since freedom of the will is a necessary condition of the meaningfulness of my life, I may as well assume that I do have it. After all, if I do not have free will and my life is meaningless, who cares?” Craig goes on to explain: “I think that determinism is incompatible with free will, but that determinism has not been demonstrated to be true” (7).
Though Craig is critical of determinism there are several theories of how some have thought freewill to factor into their deterministic philosophy. For example, compatibilism holds that free will is, somehow, compatible with determinism whereas an incompatibilist position denies that to be the case. Thus, topics pertinent for the determinist philosopher revolve around questions of morality, freewill, meaning and value.
1. Concise Oxford Dictionary, p.261.
2. Hoefer, C. 2008. “Causal Determinism” in Edward Zalta’s The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
3. The Information Philosopher. Determinism. Available.
4. Blanchard, J. 2002. Does God Believe in Atheists?
5. Doyle, B. 2011. Free Will: The Scandal in Philosophy. p. 145-146.
6. Blanchard, J. 2002. Ibid.
7. Craig, W. 2013. Freewill. Available.