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Legal Definitions - determinism
Definition of determinism
Determinism is a philosophical concept that suggests all events, including human actions and choices, are entirely determined by pre-existing causes and conditions. From this perspective, an individual's decisions and behaviors are not the result of free will, but rather the inevitable outcome of factors such as genetics, environment, upbringing, and past experiences.
Example in a criminal justice context: Imagine a situation where a person commits a crime. A determinist perspective might argue that this individual's actions were not a matter of free choice, but rather an unavoidable consequence of their challenging upbringing, such as severe poverty, lack of educational opportunities, or early exposure to violence. In this view, their behavior was "determined" by these powerful external and internal factors, rather than a conscious, uninfluenced decision to break the law.
Example in a personal development context: Consider an adult who struggles with a long-term addiction to a substance, despite repeated attempts to quit. A determinist might suggest that the addiction is not solely a failure of willpower, but rather a predictable outcome influenced by a combination of genetic predispositions, early life trauma, social pressures, and the neurobiological changes caused by the substance itself. These factors, from this perspective, "determined" the individual's continued struggle, limiting their capacity for a truly free choice to stop.
Example in a career choice context: Suppose a child of two highly successful musicians pursues a career as a professional musician themselves, excelling in the field. A determinist might propose that this career path was largely "determined" by the child's environment. Factors such as early exposure to musical instruments, parental encouragement, access to specialized music education, and the expectation of following in their parents' footsteps all contributed to this outcome, making it an almost inevitable choice rather than a purely independent decision.
Simple Definition
Determinism is a philosophical concept asserting that all human behavior is predetermined by pre-existing conditions, such as genetic, environmental, or social factors. Under this view, an individual's actions and choices are not the result of free will but are instead the inevitable outcome of prior causes.
