Theory of Free Will

The theory of free will is closely tied to the concept of a human being's ability to choose a particular course of action and to be held responsible for its outcome, states the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Making Choices

• Free will comes into play when an individual must decide what choice to make based on a desire or a value. Exercising the freedom to choose implies humans have control over both the choice and whether or not that choice is a good one, states the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Religious Significance

• Christians believe God created humans in his image, which includes giving them a free will. Question 50 in the Baltimore Catechism states, "The soul is like God because it is a spirit having understanding and free will, and is destined to live forever."

Opposing View

• Opponents of the theory of free will argue that, if all human action has been predetermined, according to the theory of determinism, free will isn't possible, states the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. This implies individuals cannot be held responsible for the outcome of actions over which they had no control.