Such an interesting topic...and one that has my head hurt - guess we're even now, Ed?

I'd like to put an even more extreme point of view up for discussion: If you'd ask Behaviorists this question they would tell you that all our decisions are based on what associations we have learned throughout our lives, there's no original bone in our body, and no free will in the classical sense. But it's not the kind of pre-determined destiny that you mentioned. To me, it always sounded a bit like what I am today is a bit of an accident...

I know this probably goes a little to the side of your original topic, but it had some influence on this discussion on me, so I thought I'd share.

My very personal take is that I have free will to decide, it's a belief that I find useful even if it might turn out not to be true. I want it to be true.

The fatalistic perspective has an appeal, it can be reassuring to know that your path is already laid out for you...but it can also trigger helplessness and passive "enduring" of life - and I see that trap for me personally and therefore try to resist it.

Just what works for me - more practical than philosophical *grins*

Silke