aleatoric

Aleatoric is an adjective derived from the Latin aleatorius, meaning dependent on the dice or chance. In English usage, it describes processes, works, or outcomes shaped by randomness or uncertainty rather than fully predetermined plans. The term is often contrasted with deterministic methods and is used across art, music, philosophy, and theory to indicate indeterminacy introduced by chance or by permissive rules.

In music, aleatoric or chance music refers to works in which some elements are left unresolved or determined by random procedures or performer choices. John Cage is the best-known figure associated with this approach, using methods such as dice rolls, randomized procedures, or open-ended instructions to shape pitch, duration, order, or structure. The resulting performances can vary from one rendition to another, emphasizing process and listening over fixed outcomes. Other postwar composers also explored indeterminacy to differing extents, contributing to a broader use of chance in musical composition.

Beyond music, aleatoric methods appear in visual arts, literature, and theater, where randomness or audience participation can influence material choices, sequence, or interpretation. Techniques might include chance operations, algorithmic or procedural systems, or deliberately fragmentary or open-ended forms. In philosophy and critical theory, aleatoric is used to discuss the role of contingency, uncertainty, and the limits of prediction in knowledge, aesthetics, and social life, often in contrast to rationalistic or deterministic frameworks.

Overall, aleatoric denotes intentional reliance on randomness or discretionary elements to produce variability, openness, and surprise in creative and theoretical practices.