Historical determinism

Historical determinism is the stance that events are historically predetermined or currently constrained by various forces. Historical determinism can be understood in contrast to its negation, i.e. the rejection of historical determinism.

Some political philosophies (e.g. Early and Stalinist Marxism) assert a historical materialism of either predetermination or constraint, or both.

Used as a pejorative, it is normally meant to designate an overdetermination of present possibilities by historical conditions.

See also

• Bad faith (existentialism)
• Determinism
• Dialectical materialism
• Economic determinism
• False consciousness
• False necessity
• Free will
• Geographic determinism
• Geopolitics
• Hegelianism
• Human nature
• Self determination
• Whig history

External links

• Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo. Under the Thumb of History? Political institutions and the Scope for Action
• Al-Ahram "Terror and Historical Determinism
• Definition at isms.com