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Determinism is a philosophical concept that posits all events, including human cognition, decision, and action, are causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. This means that given the state of the universe at any point in time, the future is fixed and could not be otherwise. There are several variations of determinism. Causal determinism is the most common form, asserting that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature. Theological determinism holds that the future is determined by God's will. Logical determinism suggests that all propositions about the future are either true or false, implying a fixed future.

The implications of determinism are profound, particularly concerning free will. If determinism is true, then the choices individuals make are not truly their own but are the inevitable outcomes of prior causes. This raises questions about moral responsibility and legal culpability. If actions are predetermined, can individuals be justly praised or blamed for them?

Compatibilism is a philosophical position that argues determinism and free will are compatible. Compatibilists often redefine free will not as the ability to have done otherwise, but as acting according to one's desires and intentions, even if those desires and intentions are themselves determined. In contrast, incompatibilists argue that free will requires genuine alternative possibilities, and thus cannot coexist with determinism. If determinism is true, incompatibilists believe free will does not exist. If free will exists, incompatibilists believe determinism must be false.

The debate over determinism has a long history and continues to be a central topic in metaphysics and ethics. Scientific discoveries, particularly in physics and neuroscience, are sometimes interpreted as supporting or challenging deterministic viewpoints, though the philosophical implications remain a subject of ongoing discussion.