Determinism is the philosophical idea that every event or action is determined by preceding events and natural laws. This means that everything that happens, including our choices, is the result of prior causes. For example, if you decide to go for a walk, determinism suggests that this choice was influenced by your past experiences, desires, and the environment around you. In a deterministic view, free will is often questioned. Some people believe that if our actions are predetermined, then we may not truly have the ability to choose. This debate involves various fields, including philosophy, science, and psychology, as thinkers like David Hume and Baruch Spinoza have explored the implications of determinism on human behavior and morality.