ABSTRACT
The idea of determinism has a very long history and various meanings. Celestial mechanics is the best example of the application of determinism. However, long before Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, Henri Poincare presented scientific elements going against absolute determinism. In spite of Poincare’s philosophical and scientific investigations, in spite of the limits of science and the discredit of scientism, in spite of the ethical problems arising throughout the twentieth century, many conservatives remained stubborn supporters of the absolute determinism. The classical and absolute determinism, so useful formerly, has been shown to be limited and all branches of physics and astronomy are today a mixture of determinism and randomness. Furthermore the ethical problems arising from misuse of science have completely modified the point of view of scientists on philosophical questions. Furthermore civil laws of modern nations reflect the philosophy of determinism.
