foreknowing

Foreknowing is the possession or exercise of knowledge about future events before they occur. It may refer to human prediction, predictive systems, or claims of divine or metaphysical awareness. The term is often distinguished from mere forecast or prophecy, which may be probabilistic or constrained by interpretation.

Philosophically, foreknowledge raises questions about the nature of time and determinism. If an agent truly knows the future, some argue that free will is compromised; others hold that knowledge of future actions can coexist with freedom. The issue is central to debates on determinism, compatibilism, and the status of future contingents.

Theological discussions often treat foreknowledge as divine omniscience. Classical theism posits that a timeless or eternal God knows all future events. Debates include whether such foreknowledge entails predestination, or can be harmonized with human freedom through concepts like middle knowledge or open theism.

In secular contexts, foreknowing appears in forecasting methods that use data, models, and simulations to predict outcomes. Such foreknowledge is typically probabilistic and contingent on model assumptions rather than infallible certainty.

Related terms include foresight, prediction, prophecy, and determinism. See also open theism; Molinism; prediction markets; weather forecasting.