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Glite Dictionary
determinist

determinist

2 8.8
A person who believes everything, even our choices, is caused by earlier events
  • noun
  • /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : determinista
  • A determinist believes that every decision we make is influenced by prior events.
  • psychosocial determinists
  • philosophical determinists
  • religious-philosophical determinists

Examples

  • Thus, libertarians would focus on punishment, whereas determinists would not be as punitive.

    Academic text (1990)

  • For the determinists, the war was ultimately inevitable, absent the manipulative mastery of a Bismarck say.

  • "Hi, John, when you say you are a determinist, what exactly do you mean?"

    Blog text (25)

  • Hi, John, when you say you are a determinist, what exactly do you mean?

    Blog text (25)

  • And if you're going to be a determinist, be a noisy, full-throated one!

    Blog text (19)

  • Philosophers often debate whether a determinist view of the universe undermines free will.

  • As a determinist, she argued that our choices are ultimately shaped by our past experiences.

Synonyms

fatalist
vsdeterminist
3 7.9

A person who believes events are already decided and cannot be changed

emphasizes past causes as the reason events happen rather than resigned acceptance
necessitarian
vsdeterminist
  • Formal
9.9

A person who believes all actions are fixed by earlier events, not by free choice

focuses on past causes as the source of events rather than logical necessity
predestinationist
vsdeterminist
9.9

A person who believes God already decided their future

attributes outcomes to prior natural causes rather than divine intention
predestinarian
vsdeterminist
  • Formal
9.9

A person who believes God decides who will be saved and people cannot change it

applies the same idea to all events rather than only religious matters

Antonyms

libertarian
  • Formal
3 8.3

A person who believes people freely choose their actions and are not controlled by outside forces

How Committed

sympathizer
37 4.8
determinist
  • Specialized
2 8.8
skeptic
  • US
77 4.1
nonbeliever
14 5.2

Surface Forms

determinist singular
determinists plural

Morphology

determinist = determinism (transparent) = determin + ist

Agentive formation is productive and clearly indicates 'a person who holds the doctrine of determinism'.

Etymology

The word determinist comes from determine, which means to 'set the limits' or 'decide', and the ending -ist means 'a person who believes'. So a determinist is someone who believes events are already set by earlier causes, like a line of dominos falling.