Free will is the ability of individuals to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or external factors. It suggests that people can act according to their own desires and intentions, allowing for personal responsibility and moral accountability. This concept is often discussed in philosophy, psychology, and theology. The debate around free will includes various perspectives, such as determinism, which argues that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding events and natural laws. Other viewpoints, like libertarianism, assert that free will exists and that individuals can choose differently in identical situations, emphasizing the role of consciousness and decision-making.