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indeterminism - 2 dictionary results

in⋅de⋅ter⋅min⋅ism

  [in-di-tur-muh-niz-uhm]
Use indeterminism in a Sentence
–noun Philosophy.
1. the doctrine that human actions, though influenced somewhat by preexisting psychological and other conditions, are not entirely governed by them but retain a certain freedom and spontaneity.
2. the theory that the will is to some extent independent of the strength of motives, or may itself modify their strength in choice.
Origin:
1870–75; in- 3 + determinism

Related forms:
in⋅de⋅ter⋅min⋅ist, noun, adjective
in⋅de⋅ter⋅min⋅is⋅tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To indeterminism
in·de·ter·min·ism   (ĭn'dĭ-tûr'mə-nĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. Unpredictability.
  2. Philosophy The doctrine that there are some events, particularly some human actions or decisions, which have no cause.
in'de·ter'min·ist n., in'de·ter'min·is'tic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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