Compatibilism

Compatibilism is the view that free will and determinism can coexist. It suggests that even if all events, including human actions, are determined by prior causes (like laws of nature or divine foreknowledge), individuals can still be considered free as long as they act according to their desires and intentions. This means freedom is about acting without coercion and aligning with one’s values, not about being uncaused. In this way, compatibilism reconciles the notion of a predetermined universe with the experience of making choices, affirming that we can still be morally responsible for our actions.