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're 'thrown' into situations without being able to reflect on them first, for to reflect on them (not act) is also something that can… (More on Thrownness)