Question:medium

Differentiate between the views of a Fatalist and a Materialist in reference to this source.

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While Fatalism centers around destiny and unchangeable fate, Materialism focuses on the physical, rejecting the spiritual or supernatural.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Makkhali Gosala's Fatalism and Ajita Kesakambalin's Materialism diverge fundamentally on the nature of existence and what follows death. Fatalism, championed by Gosala, posits that all events, including karma, are predetermined, rendering human agency incapable of altering one's fate. Conversely, Materialism, as described by Kesakambalin, denies karma and all forms of spiritual existence, confining reality to the material realm. Materialists perceive life and death as phenomena dictated by physical elements, with no post-mortem continuity, whereas Fatalists view life as governed by an immutable, supreme power.
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