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The belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable, often by a higher power, leading to a resignation in personal human will. Historically, fatalism has influenced literature, religion, and cultural attitudes towards life's events.

The concept that a divine entity knows everything that will happen in the future. Historical debates on divine foreknowledge often intersect with discussions of free will, particularly concerning the implications for predestination and omniscience.

The view that all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. Historical implications include the belief that human behavior and actions are predetermined, which has influenced legal and moral considerations.

The view that determinism and free will cannot both be true. This standpoint has had historical implications, particularly in existentialist philosophy, where the focus is on individual freedom and choice.

Refers to the self-rule or self-determination of an individual, a fundamental concept in moral, political, and bioethical philosophy. Historically, this concept has been key to understanding the underpinnings of concepts like informed consent and individual rights.

A philosophical theory that emphasizes an individual's character as the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves. The historical significance of virtue ethics lies in its inspiration from ancient Greek philosophy and its modern resurgence as an alternative to deontology and utilitarianism.

The notion that an individual's moral praise or blame can depend on factors outside their control. Historical discussions of moral luck challenge the idea that people are only morally responsible for what they can control, creating tension with the principle of alternate possibilities.

The doctrine that knowledge is the principal force in human life, often associated with the belief that moral and ethical truths can be discovered through reason. Historically, intellectualism intersects with the debate on free will by positing that humans are capable of rational decision-making.

An ethical theory that posits the best action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering. Historical implication includes the challenge to individual moral responsibility if outcomes are all that matter.

An interdisciplinary field that combines methods and findings from neuroscience with philosophical questions about the mind and free will. Historically, advancements in neurophilosophy have prompted significant discussions on the nature of consciousness and moral agency.

A critical approach that questions the possibility of certain knowledge. Historical implications include the potential to undermine convictions about free will or determinism by questioning the evidence supporting any standpoint.

A philosophical theory that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It is often associated with the idea that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject. Existentialism rose to prominence as a response to determinism and nihilism in the historical context.

The philosophical viewpoint that suggests the lack of belief in one or more reputedly meaningful aspects of life. Historically, nihilism has provided a foundation for criticizing religious and metaphysical constructs by claiming that they hold no intrinsic value.

The philosophical concept that denotes the ability to make choices that are not determined by previous events or natural laws. Historically, this concept has prompted debates about morality, responsibility, and consciousness.

The philosophical view that humans have free will and that it is not determined by previous causes. This is important in the history of ethical theories, as it impacts notions of personal responsibility.

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make free choices. Agent causation is central to the philosophical discussions of free will and responsibility. Historically, agency has been a focal point in legal systems and theories of personal identity.

A concept in philosophy that states a person is morally responsible for what they have done only if they could have done otherwise. This principle has had implications for philosophical doctrines of necessity and contingency throughout history.

A type of freedom that is purported to be consistent with determinism. Historically, it refers to the notion that a person is free as long as they are acting in accordance with their own desires and internal states, regardless of how those desires came to be.

The belief that free will and determinism are compatible ideas, and it is possible to believe both without logical inconsistency. This has historical implications for discussions around moral responsibility and justice systems.

The status of morally deserving praise, blame, reward, or punishment for an act or omission, in accordance with one's moral obligations. Debates on moral responsibility have been central to legal and ethical frameworks throughout history.

The philosophical position that not all events are determined by causality, leaving room for randomness or other forms of non-causal events. Historically, it provided a counter-argument to strict determinism, allowing for scientific and philosophical exploration of probabilities.

The belief that all events that happen are pre-ordained, or predestined to happen, by a monotheistic deity, or that they are destined to occur given its omniscience. This has historically intertwined with doctrines of religion and divine predestination.

The theological doctrine that all events have been willed by a divine being. This concept has impacted historical philosophical discussions about human free will and divine omniscience.

An ethical theory that emphasizes the role of reason in moral judgment. Throughout history, rationalist ethics has often clashed with doctrines such as determinism that downplay the autonomy and decision-making capabilities of individuals.