määrdepõhist
Määrdepõhist is a term used in Estonian-language scholarly discussions to describe an approach to history and related disciplines that emphasizes predetermined causes, defined milestones, or ordered trajectories as the primary framework for analysis. In this usage, historical explanation proceeds by identifying key determinants and tracing their effects through a sequence of events, rather than by stressing spontaneous development or contingency.
Etymology and scope: The word appears to be a compound formed from Estonian elements meaning to determine
Applications: In historiography, määrdepõhist is applied to analyses that foreground defining moments, essential causes, or normative
Criticism and debate: Critics argue that the concept risks teleology, oversimplification, and the erasure of agency
See also: determinism in history, teleology, historiography.