Fate vs. Free Will: Can We Rewrite Our Destiny

Determinism is a philosophical concept suggesting that everything operates within a framework of cause and effect. It argues that what we perceive as free will is an illusion, as every decision we make is preordained by preceding factors. According to this premise, regardless of the choices we believe we make, the outcomes are inevitable, with little to no possibility of altering them. Determinism and fatalism are closely related but distinct concepts that share overlapping themes. Fatalism posits that “nothing can be other than what it is,” or in simpler terms, that events unfold exactly as they are meant to and could not happen otherwise. While we all must eventually face our ultimate fate, the question remains: Are all our actions predetermined, or do we possess the capacity to break free from the chains of inevitability?

The ancient Egyptians believed that one's fate was chosen at birth and bestowed by the goddess Shai, rendering it inescapable. Egyptian mythology predominantly focused on cosmic fate, whereas Greek mythology emphasized the outcomes of individuals. For instance, the oracle told King Laius that his son would one day kill him and marry his wife. In an attempt to escape this fate, Laius cast his newborn son, Oedipus, away on a river. As fate would have it, Oedipus grew into a man, unknowingly killed his father during a journey, and later married his mother after claiming the king’s throne. Throughout the Greek pantheon, many characters met their fated ends precisely because they attempted to avoid the prophecies foretold by oracles. In trying to change their destinies, they unwittingly fulfilled them instead. Across Egyptian, Norse, and Greek mythologies, no one ever escaped the grasp of fate—not even Adam and Eve in the more recent story foundational to Western culture. While their narrative introduces the idea of free will, it also demonstrates an inescapable fate where their choices were far more constrained than we often realize. This recurring theme suggests that outcomes are set in stone—or are they?

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Instead, the pattern reveals that these challenges are not meant to be solved—only endured, while we cling to the belief that they can be overcome.

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The stories of those who came before us are woven into our history and provide glimpses into the challenges we face today—an inescapable fate tethered to our past. Who we are in this moment is shaped not only by our own decisions and actions but also by the cumulative choices of generations before us. It seems we cannot escape our past any more than we can escape our nature. Our collective amnesia regarding the events of the past makes our present actions predictable, rendering our future a reflection of what has already been. Though things appear to change, they often remain fundamentally the same.

For example, adjusted for inflation, the average income today reveals that many individuals are no better off financially than their parents or grandparents, underscoring how economic struggles and inequality have persisted across generations. Similarly, younger generations immersed in social media often foster surface-level connections, while older generations faced their own communication challenges, constrained by limited technology and societal norms that stifled open dialogue. Relationships, too, have seen their share of continuity amid change. Social media introduces new challenges, such as comparison and disconnection, yet older generations often contended with silent dissatisfaction and societal pressures to maintain an illusion of happiness. Across time, the core struggles remain: human connection, financial stability, and the search for fulfillment. We are led to believe that these challenges can be solved, but history suggests otherwise. Instead, the pattern reveals that these challenges are not meant to be solved—only endured, while we cling to the belief that they can be overcome. Are we destined to repeat the past simply because we have forgotten it? The evidence suggests that we are.

This raises a profound question: If everything is determined, are we robbed of the ability to make moral choices that truly matter? What good is choice if the outcome is predetermined? It may seem that what we perceive as free will is merely an illusion, as the Oracle in The Matrix famously stated: “You didn’t come here to make the choice. You’ve already made it. You’re here to understand why you made it.” However, while the past undeniably shapes who we are, I believe free will and fate coexist, not as separate entities but as compatible forces. We do possess free will and the ability to make our own choices—but only if those choices are untied to the patterns of the past. To experience true freedom, we must act in ways that are rooted in the present moment, leaving behind the pain and trauma of the past. Only then can we truly embrace free will and create a future that breaks free from the cycle of history.

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Live and Learn Life is a Lesson

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Episode 2: Fate's Hand - Can We Change Our Destined Course?

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Written By:
Courtney Lewis

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