This document summarizes three works - Oedipus the King, The Adjustment Bureau, and Ecclesiastes - from a compatibilist perspective. Compatibilism is the view that free will and determinism can be compatible. The summaries argue that in each work: 1) Characters exhibit free will in their choices and actions, yet 2) theological determinism or divine foreknowledge also play a role in shaping events. For example, in Oedipus the King, Oedipus uses free will but his fate was partially foretold. In The Adjustment Bureau, characters' paths can change but are still known to God. And Ecclesiastes says humans have will yet God knows the future.

1. WHO IS THE TRIUMPHANT
CONTROL FREAK?
An Essay on Compatibilism in 3 Independent Media
By Claire, Dennis, Grant, Lauren, & Morgan
?

2. Free Will
Freedom of humans to make choices that are not
determined by prior causes or divine intervention
Compatibilism
The thesis that free will is compatible with determinism.
Because free will is typically taken to be a necessary
condition of moral responsibility, compatibilism is
Determinism sometimes expressed in terms of a compatibility between
moral responsibility and determinism.
Based on the notion of foreknowledge: if God is an
omniscient being, and if omniscience applies to the futre (as
well as to the past and present), then the future is known
by God. But in that case, the future can only be what God
knows it to be. No alternatives are possible.

3. OEDIPUS THE KING
A Compatibilist View

4. OEDIPUS THE KING
Free Will Determinism
• Tiresiasonly reveals Oedipus’ past--not • Omniscience--complete or maximal
his future. knowledge
• Oedipus has free will to shape his future • Prophecy--the determining factor

5. COMPATIBILISM:
While the majority of Oedipus’ fate was foretold, he used his free will to harm himself in the
end--displaying the merging of free will and theological determinism.

6. THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
A Compatibilist View

7. THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
Free Will Determinism
• Dance recital breaks Elise’s ankle
• Pre-AB, mirage of free will
• Talks about their careers in the future
• David’s use of the door system
• Ifsomeone deviates from the plan, it
• Elise and David exemplify free will
gets adjusted

8. COMPATIBILISM:
The movie leads us to believe that our paths can in fact be altered but that God is still all
knowing of our decisions and our futures.

9. ECCLESIASTES
A Compatibilist View

10. ECCLESIASTES
• Humans have a sense of past and future and knowledge, but they cannot know the
future or know as much as God. (Eccl 3:11)
• The author says to choose what you want, but God always knows (Eccl 11:9) (free
will)
• “Fate” (determinism)

11. COMPATIBILISM:
The author of Ecclesiastes seems torn between his ability to perceive the reality of
the world and his inability to perceive God.