Free will is the ability of individuals to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or divine intervention. It suggests that people have the power to act according to their own desires and intentions, which is a fundamental aspect of human experience and moral responsibility. The debate surrounding free will often contrasts it with determinism, the idea that every event or action is determined by preceding events in accordance with the laws of nature. This raises questions about accountability and the nature of human agency, as seen in discussions involving figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and David Hume.