Determinism in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Determinism

The term “determinism” finds its roots in the Latin word “determinare,” which means “to limit” or “to bound.”

In its historical and philosophical context, determinism refers to the idea that events, actions, and outcomes are bound by pre-existing causes, laws, or conditions, thereby leaving little room for random chance or free will.

The concept of determinism has been a subject of extensive philosophical discourse, particularly in the realms of metaphysics and ethics, where it has been both defended and criticized. It remains a fundamental idea in understanding the extent to which human choices and events are governed by external factors or are, to some degree, free from deterministic constraints.

Meanings of Determinism

Aspect	Meanings
Causal Determinism	Events have predetermined causes and necessary sequences.
Logical Determinism	Statements are true or false based on logical necessity, implying no free will.
Psychological Determinism	Human thoughts and actions are entirely determined by prior factors, limiting personal agency.
Hard Determinism	All events and actions are determined by preceding conditions, denying free will.
Soft Determinism	Suggests that free will and determinism can coexist under certain conditions.
Biological Determinism	Human behavior and traits are shaped primarily by genetic and biological factors.
Technological Determinism	Technology influences society’s development, culture, and behavior deterministically.
Ethical Determinism	Moral choices are determined by external factors like societal norms, upbringing, or religious beliefs, not individual agency.

Definition of Determinism as a Theoretical Term

Determinism, as a theoretical concept, refers to the philosophical position that all events, actions, and outcomes in the universe are the result of pre-existing causes, laws, or conditions, making them predictable and inevitable.

It suggests that there is a deterministic relationship between antecedent factors and subsequent events, leaving little room for random chance or human free will. This concept has profound implications for understanding the extent to which individual choices and actions are influenced by external forces and constraints.

Determinism: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists:

• Pierre-Simon Laplace: Laplace, a French mathematician and physicist, formulated Laplace’s demon, a concept in which the universe is entirely determined if one possesses complete knowledge of its present state.
• Baruch Spinoza: Spinoza’s philosophical work, particularly his “Ethics,” explored a deterministic worldview, asserting that everything in the universe, including human actions, is determined by the necessity of nature.
• Albert Einstein: Einstein’s work in physics, including his “Theory of Relativity,” contributed to the idea that the universe operates under deterministic laws, although his later thoughts on quantum mechanics added complexity to this view.

Works:

• “Philosophical Essay on Probabilities” by Pierre-Simon Laplace: In this work, Laplace introduced the idea of determinism through the concept of Laplace’s demon, proposing that the future could be predicted if one had complete knowledge of the universe’s current state.
• “Ethics” by Baruch Spinoza: Spinoza’s magnum opus delves into his deterministic philosophy, arguing that everything, including human actions, is governed by the necessity of nature.
• “Theory of Relativity” by Albert Einstein: Einstein’s groundbreaking theories in physics, particularly his theory of relativity, contribute to the understanding of deterministic laws governing the universe.

Key Arguments:

• Laplace’s Determinism: Laplace’s argument is centered around the concept of Laplace’s demon, suggesting that if one had complete knowledge of the present state of the universe, all future and past events could be determined with certainty, implying a fully deterministic cosmos.
• Spinoza’s Necessitarianism: Spinoza’s argument revolves around the idea of “necessity” in his philosophy, contending that all things are determined by the necessity of nature and that human freedom is an illusion.
• Einstein’s Contribution: Einstein’s key argument relates to the deterministic nature of the physical universe as described by his theories of relativity, which posit that the laws of physics apply consistently and deterministically to all events and objects.

These theorists, their works, and arguments contribute to the understanding of determinism as a philosophical and scientific concept, challenging notions of chance and free will in the universe.

Determinism and Literary Theories

Theory	Relevance of Determinism
Naturalism:	Naturalism in literature explores how individuals are shaped by their environment, heredity, and external factors. Determinism is highly relevant here, as naturalist authors often depict characters whose actions and fates are preordained by these influences. Novels like Emile Zola’s Germinal exemplify this by portraying characters trapped in circumstances they cannot control.
Realism:	Realist literature aims to depict life and society as it is, often emphasizing the influence of external factors on characters’ choices and outcomes. Determinism can be a key theme, illustrating how societal norms, class structures, and economic conditions limit individual agency. Works like Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles showcase this aspect.
Existentialism:	While existentialism typically focuses on individual freedom and choice, it also engages with determinism. Existentialist authors like Jean-Paul Sartre explore the tension between the individual’s capacity for free will and the external forces that may limit that freedom. In Sartre’s play No Exit, the characters are both free and determined by their own choices and actions.
Science Fiction:	Determinism plays a crucial role in many science fiction works, particularly in exploring the impact of technology and future societies on individual agency. Authors like Philip K. Dick, in his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, examine how technology and artificial intelligence challenge human agency and free will.
Postmodernism:	Postmodern literature questions and challenges traditional notions of agency and determinism. It often explores the instability of meaning and the multiplicity of interpretations. Works like Italo Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler challenge the idea of a singular, deterministic narrative structure.

Determinism in Literary Criticism

1. In The Stranger by Albert Camus:
   • Critique: Camus explores the idea of existential absurdity and a world devoid of inherent meaning. The deterministic backdrop in The Stranger suggests that the protagonist, Meursault, is trapped in a world where his actions and choices seem predetermined by the indifference of the universe. Critics argue that this bleak determinism overshadows individual agency, making Meursault a passive observer in his own life.
2. In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky:
   • Critique: Dostoevsky’s novel grapples with moral determinism and the consequences of one’s actions. Critics argue that the deterministic themes in Crime and Punishment can lead to a pessimistic view of human nature, suggesting that individuals are inevitably bound by their moral choices, leaving little room for redemption or change.
3. In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka:
   • Critique: Kafka’s The Metamorphosis portrays the absurdity of existence and the powerless, deterministic nature of Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect. Critics contend that the work critiques the dehumanizing effects of determinism, where external circumstances strip away one’s humanity and agency, leaving the individual subject to the whims of fate.
4. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley:
   • Critique: In Huxley’s dystopian novel, the deterministic nature of the World State, with its conditioning and societal control, is a central theme. Critics argue that the excessive determinism depicted in Brave New World can be seen as a critique of a society that sacrifices individual agency and freedom for stability and conformity, leading to a loss of genuine human experience.

These critiques underscore how determinism, when explored in literature, can both shed light on the constraints of individual agency and potentially overshadow the complexity of characters and their choices.

Suggested Readings

1. Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Vintage International, 1989.
2. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Translated by Constance Garnett, Barnes & Noble Classics, 2007.
3. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. Harper Perennial, 2006.
4. Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Translated by David Wyllie, W. W. Norton & Company, 2015.
5. Laplace, Pierre-Simon. A Philosophical Essay on Probabilities. Translated by Frederick Wilson Truscott and Frederick Lincoln Emory, Dover Publications, 1997.
6. Spinoza, Baruch. Ethics. Translated by R. H. M. Elwes, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
7. Sartre, Jean-Paul. No Exit and Three Other Plays. Vintage, 1989.
8. Zola, Emile. Germinal. Translated by Havelock Ellis, Oxford University Press, 2010.