What is free will? How does it affect my choices & actions?

You decide to become an architect. You graduate, land a job, and start enjoying the first steps of your career. It seems like your success came from your decision.

But who really made it happen?

Was it you, who took action?

Your parents, who gave you a strong educational foundation?

Or society, which rewards certain career paths more than others?

Making a decision can seem simple — we want something, so we act. But what really shapes our choices? Beginning with Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, many great minds have debated this question for centuries.

Explore different views on free will to understand what influences your decisions and whether you're truly in control, or if something else is guiding your path.

Determinism theory says that everything we do is the result of previous causes like our genetics, environment, and life experiences.

In other words, our choices aren’t really free, because the past has already shaped what we’ll do.

According to determinism, we couldn’t have acted any other way than we did.

Imagine Carlos, who often gets angry quickly and struggles to control his temper.

This isn’t just because of his choices in the moment. He grew up in a stressful environment where shouting was common, and his brain learned to react strongly to frustration.

According to determinism, Carlos’s behavior is shaped by his past experiences and environment, making his reactions somewhat inevitable.

Determinism makes sense because choices often follow patterns shaped by past events. But it’s hard to accept that we never truly had other options.

Libertarianism supports the idea that each person can make choices freely — and that they must also take personal responsibility for those choices.

Let's say Samantha decides to cheat on a test. According to libertarianism, she made that choice freely — no one forced her, and her past didn’t determine it. That also means she’s fully responsible for what she did, along with the consequences that follow.

Libertarianism says you’re the one turning the pages, not your past, your brain, or society.

Every decision is yours, and so are the results.

Libertarianism believes we have true freedom to choose. But it’s hard to explain how choices aren’t influenced by anything at all.

Compatibilism tries to find common ground between determinism and libertarianism. It teaches that while some events are determined by outside causes, individuals still have the freedom to choose within those limits.

Compatibilism says that even if some things in life are already set, you still have the power to choose how to respond.

Jade works part-time after school and doesn’t have unlimited free time like some of her classmates. She didn’t choose her situation, but she does choose how to handle it.

Jade plans her week carefully, studies during quiet shifts, and stays focused on her goals. According to compatibilism, Jade’s circumstances may be shaped by outside factors, but her decisions still reflect real, meaningful choice.

Compatibilism says we’re free if we act on our own desires — even if those desires are shaped by outside forces. But critics argue that this isn’t real freedom, just an illusion of choice. Even if you feel free, all your decisions could still be shaped by things like your upbringing, brain chemistry, or past experiences.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

— Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian

In the end, it’s up to you to believe the given theories on free will or come up with your own:

• Determinism can help you accept things you can’t control.

• Libertarianism encourages you to take ownership of your choices — even if that freedom is partly imagined, it can empower you.

• Compatibilism teaches you to be flexible, finding freedom even within limits.

Together, these theories offer different ways to understand yourself and how you move through the world.