Even if free will isn't a binary of "have it or don't have it", the extent to which we live lives of our own choosing seems very limited. There are some who hav

Even if free will isn't a binary of "have it or don't have it", the extent to which we live lives of our own choosing seems very limited. There are some who have the resources to make big changes in their lives, but for most of humanity, the opportunities for change are quite limited. Our laws and economic systems are structured as if we all have complete autonomy. What if we don't? “Moreover, the deterministic perspective allows for compassion towards others. And this applies to anyone — those who are criminals, members of the opposite political party, the guy who cut you off on the highway on-ramp, and anyone less fortunate than you. Because these humans did not choose their parents, did not choose the society they were born into, and did not create the cells in their body, they cannot be to blame for their actions — they have merely been dealt some unfortunate life playing cards. In a certain sense, awareness of the deterministic model can be an antidote to the arrogance and hatred that are rampant in modern society.”