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Determinism in philosophy is characterized by the idea that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding causes. This view posits that every state of affairs, including every human decision and action, is the outcome of prior events in accordance with the laws of nature. Therefore, it emphasizes that everything occurring in the universe has a specific cause, whether that be physical, biological, psychological, or another type of force. This perspective leads to discussions about the implications for free will, as if all actions are predetermined, the notion of individuals freely making choices is called into question.

The other options misrepresent the concept of determinism. For instance, the promotion of free will contradicts the deterministic viewpoint, as it implies that individuals have the capacity to make independent choices regardless of pre-existing conditions. Similarly, stating that individuals can control all events in their lives overlooks the fundamental assertion of determinism that events are shaped by external causes, rather than personal control. Finally, denying the existence of cause and effect relationships runs counter to the basis of determinism, which relies heavily on the presence of causal relationships to explain why things occur.