Undertale's Usage Of Wordplay In The Key Phrase Of 'Determination' Is Something Which Fascinates Me In

Undertale's usage of wordplay in the key phrase of 'Determination' is something which fascinates me in its complexities of interpretation.

First of all, we have the most standard definition: 'firmness of purpose; resoluteness.' This is the most obvious of the meanings. one's sheer willpower. and the ability to inflict that will upon the world.

Next, we have a secondary definition: 'the process of establishing something exactly by calculation or research.' This may seem to be rather unconnected to the concept of determination itself, other than perhaps tangentially by the extensive research of Determination and the subsequent formation of the Amalgamates, but I would posit that it may also refer to something different, something I was reminded of by the exact phrasing:

this secondary definition could also refer to a pattern of behavior which seems to arise when a given entity has reached the tipping point of Determination needed to create a Save Point- namely, the need to 'see everything that can happen'. To establish it exactly, by way of experimentation.

Next, there is 'a judicial decision or sentence.' This one is barely anything, nothing more than simple neuron activation against the scene within the Hall of Judgement. Moving on.

Now, we come to something very interesting indeed. 'the controlling or deciding of something's nature or outcome.' It can definitely be said that the player character, the possessor of the highest level of Determination within the underground, is the one responsible for the outcome of monster society- after all, this is the entire reason the Routes exist to begin with. This is likely not an aspect of Determination itself, but more of a consequence of its holding almost always resulting in one being powerful. However, there is a much more significant aspect to this choice. Or rather, to the fact that it is Choice. To summarize, this definition is essentially a statement that Determination is a synonym for Choice. And, extrapolating from this, if this line of dialogue is as important as people seem to think...

It might be interpreted to mean that Determination or the possession of such may hold ultimately no importance within the wider story of Deltarune(which, seems relatively obvious so far, but you never know what might happen).

And this serves as a great segue to the last item I have here to present:

Determinism:

'the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.'

This has some fascinating implications about The Player as an entity within the context of Undertale and Deltarune, primarily Deltarune. What those implications might be, however, I shall leave to others- I am content to simply point out the existence of the link.

Whether any of this has true meaning or not, I genuinely do not know. Confirmation bias might have conjured this out of thin air. But, I felt it was interesting enough to post nevertheless!

Addendum:

I believe this particular bit has been pointed out somewhere before, but it is worth cataloguing nevertheless: De-Termination, or, the undoing of death.