what is free will

Free will is the capacity or ability of individuals to make choices between different possible courses of action, exercise control over their actions, and be the ultimate originators of these actions. It implies that actions are freely chosen and not coerced or predetermined, which is why free will is closely linked to moral responsibility and accountability. Philosophically, free will is debated especially in relation to determinism—the idea that all events are caused by previous events—raising questions about whether true free will can exist if actions are predetermined or influenced by external factors. Different philosophical perspectives exist on free will. Some suggest free will means making choices undetermined by past events (incompatibilism), while others argue it can coexist with determinism (compatibilism). Additionally, free will involves the ability to act according to higher-order desires or intellectual decisions, not merely base impulses. This tension between desires and intellect is a key aspect highlighted in modern philosophical theories of free will.