Predestination Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Philosophy

• Philosophers have debated the concept for centuries, discussing how free will interacts with foreordained plans.
• Two main views exist: compatibilism, which says free will and determinism can coexist, and incompatibilism, which argues they cannot.
• Notable thinkers like Augustine and John Calvin emphasized predestination in their theological frameworks.

Religion

• In Christianity, especially in Calvinism, predestination refers to God determining who will be saved.
• In Islam, the concept of Qadar relates to the belief in divine preordaining of all events.
• Various interpretations exist across different religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, regarding karma and fate.

Literature

• The theme appears in works like Dante's 'Divine Comedy', where souls are preassigned their afterlife fate.
• In Shakespeare's plays, characters often grapple with fate versus free will, reflecting the tension of predestined outcomes.
• Modern novels, such as 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho, explore the idea of destiny in a narrative form.

Science

• Some scientists argue that the universe operates in a deterministic way where the future is predictable given initial conditions.
• Quantum mechanics introduces uncertainty, challenging the strict interpretations of determinism in classical physics.
• The debate over genetic determinism suggests that our DNA could predestine certain traits and behaviors.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Latin 'praedestinare', meaning 'to determine beforehand'.
• It has been used in theological discussions since at least the early Middle Ages.
• The term is often linked to religious writings, especially in Christianity.

The term 'predestination' originated from the Latin word 'praedestinare', which means 'to determine beforehand'. The concept of predestination has been a topic of debate among theologians and philosophers for centuries. It has been a key element in various religious traditions, including Calvinism and Islam. The idea of predestination raises profound questions about the nature of free will, destiny, and the role of divine intervention in human affairs.

See also: destinations.

Positioned at #22,281, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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• 22281 predestination
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