Thrownness

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Thrownness (German Geworfenheit) is a concept by Martin Heidegger used to describe the interactions with our surroundings in the everyday life, that causes us to act upon instincts, immediate reactions to other people's language and actions, "flow with the situation," immediate interpretations, etc.

Once we accept that to not act is also an action, he notes that we are 'thrown' into situations without being able to reflect on them first, for to reflect on them (not act) is also something that can be interpreted as an action. We therefore must rely on our instinctual interpretations, and go with the flow.

See also Dasein (being in the world) and Heideggerian terminology.