What does indeterminism mean?
Indeterminism is the principle that some events or outcomes are not fixed by prior causes or conditions. It is most closely associated with debates in philosophy and quantum mechanics, where it challenges the classical claim that every event follows deterministically from earlier states of the world. The term can also describe the more general condition of something being unsettled, undefined, or open to multiple interpretations. In everyday use, “indeterminacy” and “uncertainty” are often more natural, while “indeterminism” sounds technical and theoretical. The word is especially useful when discussing whether randomness belongs fundamentally to nature rather than merely reflecting incomplete knowledge. Its philosophical history long predates modern quantum theory, although experiments in the twentieth century made indeterminism central to public scientific discussion.
nounThe doctrine that some events or outcomes are not fixed by preceding causes or conditions. More generally, it refers to the state of being indeterminate or not definitively settled.
- The philosophical doctrine that at least some events are not wholly determined by antecedent causes or conditions.
- The general condition of being uncertain, undefined, or not conclusively settled.
"The experiment challenged the classical view of physical causation by giving support to quantum indeterminism."
"The physicists debated whether quantum indeterminism reflects an objective feature of nature or a limitation in the theory."
"The vagueness of the instructions introduced a degree of indeterminism into the final result."
Rare and usually unnecessary; the singular is normally used because the word names a doctrine or principle.
"The article compares competing indeterminisms proposed in different interpretations of quantum theory."
Quantum mechanics made indeterminism famous, but the philosophical debate about whether nature is ultimately fixed predates the laboratory by centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indeterminism come from?
Indeterminism was formed in the 19th century from “indeterminate” and the suffix “-ism,” which is used to form names of doctrines, theories, or characteristic practices. Its elements ultimately derive from Latin, with “indeterminate” based on “indeterminatus,” formed from the prefix “in-” and a form related to “determine.” It belongs to the same wider Latin-derived family as “determine,” “determinate,” “determination,” and “determinism,” although it expresses the opposite philosophical orientation from determinism.
Related word forms
How indeterminism is actually used
A formal and chiefly philosophical or scientific term. In discussions of quantum mechanics, it usually refers to objective limits on causal determination rather than ordinary human uncertainty.
Easily confused with indeterminism
Indeterminacy is the general condition of being unsettled or indeterminate, whereas indeterminism usually denotes the philosophical doctrine that some events are not causally determined.