Free Will, Determinism, or Something in Between?

We live in a culture that emphasizes freedom and autonomy: "I did it my way"; "live free or die"; we live in the "land of the free." This language brings up a classic philosophical question: do we have free will or are we simply determined by our genes and environment? Or perhaps there is some position in between--known as compatibilism (free will and determinism are compatible with each other).

What is at stake in the free will-determinism debate? What are the implications of free will? Does it even matter whether we have free will or not? Would the way we operate be any different? Are we cogs in the metaphysical wheels of the universe? Is anything really up to us at all?

If we don't have free will, would this make a difference in how we view, say, crime and punishment? What if people can't help doing what they do simply because "that was how they grew up" or "they're genetically predisposed to certain actions"? Can they be held responsible for their actions?

What difference does our worldview or philosophy of life make? For example, what kind of worldview helps us make sense of free will (assuming we have it)? Does free will imply a self that exists that can act on the material world, or does the material world dictate our thoughts, intentions, and actions? Some worldviews (like Stoicism) rule out free will; everything that happens is fated. And if we were to rewind the tape of our choices and begin again, everything would be identical.

While these perennial questions may not have knock-down arguments in their favor on one side or the other, perhaps we can make some headway on this discussion and gain some insight.