- [[Philosophy|Philosophical]] doctrine that considers the universe as a deterministic or inevitable system. - Emphasizes that all events, actions, and behaviors are subject to fate or destiny. - Holds that future events will occur regardless of human action. - Often associated with an attitude of resignation toward future events considered unavoidable. ## Core Concepts - Inevitability of Events - Past, present, and future events are deemed inevitable. - Nothing could have happened or been done differently than what did occur. - [[Determinism]] and Fatalism - Fatalism stresses inevitability rather than causal chains. - Differs from [[Determinism]]: - [[Determinism]] emphasizes causality and prior states. - Fatalism emphasizes inevitability regardless of causes. - Attitude of Resignation - Acceptance or resignation to an unavoidable future. - Often tied to religious or mythological frameworks. ## Types of Fatalism - Theological Fatalism - Belief that an omniscient God’s foreknowledge makes future actions necessary and unfree. - Logical Fatalism - View that propositions about the future are already true or false, making events predetermined. - Causal [[Determinism]] - Idea that every event is caused by prior states. - Sometimes separated from fatalism, which stresses inevitability more broadly. - Limited or Soft Fatalism - Fatalism applied selectively, e.g., to prophecies or specific events. ## Historical and Cultural Context - Ancient Indian [[Philosophy]] - The Ājīvika school embraced absolute fatalism, denying [[free will]] and karma. - Cultural Interpretations - Many traditions hold that destinies are ruled by unseen powers and cannot be altered. - Relation to Other Philosophies - Related to but distinct from [[Determinism]] and [[Predeterminism]], which stress causal necessity. ## Implications and Criticisms - Practical Ethics - Challenges moral responsibility, as resignation can undermine action. - [[Philosophy|Philosophical]] Debates - Central to arguments about [[free will]], divine foreknowledge, and metaphysical necessity. - [[Psychology|Psychological]] and Cultural Aspects - Fatalistic attitudes may arise from cultural worldviews or as adaptive coping strategies.