Determinist: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'determinist' when referring to someone who believes that all events, including human actions, are determined by previously existing causes and conditions, denying free will.

• He is a determinist who thinks that our choices are just illusions shaped by prior events.
• The determinist theory suggests that everything in the universe is governed by causal laws.

Choose 'fatalist' when referring to someone who believes that all events are predetermined and inevitable, often with a sense of resignation to fate.

• She is a fatalist and believes there is nothing we can do to change our destiny.
• As a fatalist, he accepts all tragedies without complaint, thinking they were always meant to happen.

Use 'predestinarian' when describing a person who believes in predestination, especially in a religious context, where it is believed that all events have been willed by God.

• The preacher's predestinarian views were evident in his sermon about divine will.
• Her predestinarian beliefs are rooted in the idea that every event in life is preordained by a higher power.

Apply 'predestinist' similarly to 'predestinarian,' but it might be used less commonly. It also signifies belief in predestination, often with religious connotations.

• As a predestinist, he believes that our paths are set by a divine force.
• Her predestinist philosophy makes her think that every step she takes has been decided beforehand.

Use 'determinist' when discussing the philosophical belief that all events, including human actions, are determined by causes external to the will.

• A determinist would argue that every decision you make is influenced by factors outside your control.
• In the debate, she highlighted her determinist perspective on free will.

Employ 'behaviorist' when referring to the psychological theory that behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment and can be studied in a systematic and observable manner.

• The psychologist use a behaviorist approach to treat the patient's anxiety.
• As a behaviorist, he focused on observable actions rather than internal mental states.

Use 'conditionalist' in situations related to conditional reasoning or beliefs, which suggest that certain principles or actions are dependent on specific conditions.

• The theory was explained from a conditionalist viewpoint, emphasizing that outcomes depend on meeting specific criteria.
• Her stance as a conditionalist made her arguments contingent on certain prerequisites being met.