Free Will A Very Short Introduction

Every day we seem to make and act upon all kinds of free choices - some ofthem trivial, and some so consequential that they change the course of one'slife, or even the course of history. But are these choices really free? Or arewe compelled to act the way we do by factors beyond our control? Is the feelingthat we could have made different decisions just an illusion? And if ourchoices are not free, is it legitimate to hold people morally responsible fortheir actions?

Thomas Pink is Lecturer in Philosophy at King's College, London.