History Main / SlidingScaleOfFreewillVsFate

* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': While the initial trilogy leans toward YouCantFightFate, ''VideoGame/GodOfWarRagnarok'' reveals that [[spoiler:the games are set in the absolute middle of this scale -- predetermined fate doesn't exist, but beings like the Norns can make [[ExcellentJudgeOfCharacter exceedingly accurate predictions of how people will react to their prophecies and to other stimuli.]] It is possible to ScrewDestiny, but to do so you have to acknowledge and accept your flaws and actions and from there make an effort to [[CharacterDevelopment change yourself to some significant extent]] -- Kratos still killing gods, but now [[BeingEvilSucks "feeling sad about it"]] is refuted by the Norns as ''not'' good enough to change his destiny]].

* Despite the quote at the top of the page by Jojo, ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'' is very much on the high end of the Fate side. Once Fate decides that something is going to happen, YouCantFightFate, period, including giving characters unseeable (except in certain circumstances) literal PlotArmor to protect them until their role in the plot Fate has determined has come to pass and Fate will make things hard for you if you try to fight it. Those Fated can find ways around Fate, including an entire school of magic (Carnymancy) dedicated to delaying it, but Fate will come for you eventually.

[[folder:Anime & Manga ]]
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' lies somewhere very high on the scale. Causality plays a big role in the Berserk universe. People like Guts can struggle against causality, but are unable to completely overcome it and/or maintain their struggle indefinitely. One character who would know (but who may not be [[UnreliableExpositor the most reliable source]]) compares him to a fish in a stream: the fish can leap into the air, but it cannot alter the course of the stream. If accurate, that would put it somewhere between YouCantFightFate BecauseDestinySaysSo and Fighting Fate Is Hard, depending on how much importance you want to place on the fate of the fish versus that of the stream.

* ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'' is somewhere in the middle (and [[IncrediblyLamePun particularly]] [[TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness dark]]) with fate working for and against the Players as well as being avertable.

* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': [[https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/page-17-2022 When Minmax briefly]] [[DeityOfHumanOrigin becomes a god]] [[AchievementsInIgnorance by accident]] and [[TheOmniscient experiences all of time for one singular moment]], he reveals to Kin that both fate and free will are real: every possible reality that could exist is set in stone, but every decision we make hops us from one reality to another where everything is the same except for the choice we just made. He ascribes this to free will existing fifth-dimensionally, [[BookDumb even though he admits he has no idea what that means.]]

* ''Webcomic/ExistentialComics'': The issue of how much (if any) free will people have, plus what it even means at all, gets discussed in detail with "[[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/70 A Dialogue On Compatibilism]]". Cory later argues that in fact the compatibilist view makes more sense and is ''less'' counter-intuitive, contrary to many claims, using ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' (and {{time travel}} in general) [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/278 as an example]].

** This series has an oddly MagicAIsMagicA approach to prophesy and destiny, maybe to a unique degree. Everyone has a destiny for their lives from start to finish, and detailed millenia-old prophesies explain the only possible way the world can be saved from the BigBad. However, free will exists - just because someone is destined to be a peddler doesn't mean they couldn't choose to pursue a career at a smithy, or kill themselves. How do both free will and destiny exist? Because of people called ''ta'veren'', an in-universe term that almost literally means "main character." ''Ta'veren'' have the involuntary power of WindsOfDestinyChange: when one is nearby, random events happen that push people in the direction of what destiny has in store for them. HeadsTailsEdge suddenly becomes common and people will make impulsive decisions that completely change the course of their lives. So basically, people in the Wheel of Time world live by "Prophecies Are Guides, Not Rules," except for when a ''ta'veren'' is in town, when everything becomes BecauseDestinySaysSo. (Note that this is involuntary for the ''ta'veren'', and the changes destiny causes result in misfortune for others and themselves about as often as not. They tend to be heroes, but [[HurtingHero of the hurting variety]].)

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Alice's predictions of the future will change if somebody involved in the vision makes a decision that would change the future.

* Islamic doctrine also includes the idea of predestination (essentially synonymous with Fate of Destiny). Interpretations obviously differ, but as generally taught to non-scholars it ties into the concept of Omniscience as possessed by God. God knows everything, so he knows what's going to happen. The popular interpretation is that humankind's actions dictate the map of the future, and not the other way around. God just saw how it would all pan out from the Beginning. So... the future's like the weather, with the assumption that God is the best weatherman ever. If we could see the future, then theoretically it's more of a guide, with the assumption that God saw it all coming anyway.

* While the CentralTheme of ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' is one of ScrewDestiny, hence why every round is started with the announcement [[ArcWords "The Wheel of Fate is Turning"]], the intricacies are much more complicated:

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': It is stated that fate is undefeatable. However, [[spoiler:later it is not only revealed that can fate can be fought, but that humans are the only ones with true free will -- something not even the Fal'cie had. Hence the reason Fal'cie create l'cie, to use their unlimited potential]].
* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': While the initial trilogy leans toward YouCantFightFate, ''VideoGame/GodOfWarRagnarok'' reveals that [[spoiler:the games are set in the absolute middle of this scale - predetermined fate doesn't exist, but beings like the Norns can make exceedingly accurate predictions of how people will react to their prophecies and to other stimuli. It is possible to ScrewDestiny, but you have to acknowledge and accept your flaws and actions]].

* The ultimate message and conflict of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny'' revolved around this, as a battle of Freedom vs Destiny.
* ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' has themes regarding these. The show's catchphrase is "May all who accept their fate find happiness. May all who defy their fate find glory."

* ''Manga/XxxHolic'' ranks quite high: "There is no such thing as coincidence in this world - there is only inevitability."
* ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'' is considered high in the fate scale.

* ''Anime/{{Penguindrum}}'' is all about working the scale: On one hand, we have a crazed stalker character (Ringo) who firmly believes in fate and sets out to fulfil the fate that's written down on her diary, and on the other, we have the Takakura siblings (Kanba/Shoma) who hate "fate" and wish to take destiny into their own hands. Then we have their sister Himari, who bestows fate ''according'' to her own rules.
* The ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' manga can't seem to make up its mind where it is on the scale. Naruto's fight with Neji contrasts the viewpoints of ScrewDestiny and YouCantFightFate, with Neji advocating a belief that everyone's abilities are determined from birth, and only those with great parentage can truly excel, with Naruto contesting that anyone can succeed [[{{Determinator}} if they try hard enough]]. Naruto wins the fight, which would seem to vindicate his position, but it turns out that Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage [[spoiler:and his mother was the previous Kyuubi jinchuriki and a descendent of the [[PhysicalGod Sage of Six Paths]].]] Furthermore, Naruto's own skill proved insufficient to overcome Neji's and he won that fight entirely because of the inherent advantages of being a [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan jinchuriki]]. On the other hand, Neji didn't know who Naruto's parents were, and based his opinion of Naruto primarily on his academic performance. The issue is definitely worthy of debate. YMMV on whether it's simply a BrokenAesop or if the message all along was that it's not as easy to determine the future's possibilities as Neji presumed.

* Whole point and theme of the aptly named ''VideoGame/ExitFate''. "Fate" merely refers to a non-universal way of pre-determining someone's life. The game is (among other things) about the main character's discovery that his life is fated and his struggle to break the control over him. [[spoiler:Interestingly enough, the game ''does'' feature a supernatural entity called "the Hand of Fate" that has the power to manipulate destiny in whatever way it wants but, since it's part of the BigBadDuumvirate, it's actually working with the mortals to create their own naturalistic system of destiny.]]
* ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' is an absolutely free universe that's presented as a deterministic one thanks to an absurdly powerful supercomputer from the future.

* ''VideoGame/ShadowOfDestiny'' basically uses this scale like a teeter toter, using both ends ''at the same time''.
* The ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'' has James Taylor - and about every hero - with a ScrewDestiny attitude, especially toward any villains he faces, who are always with YouCantFightFate.
--> '''James Taylor:''' Only man can change the fate himself! You (the Magician) are nothing!!
* By the end of ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'', it is definitely [[spoiler: Free Will that wins in the end, via ScrewDestiny]].

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' is complicated, with both free will and fate being strong. The PlayerCharacter is saddled with a role in a divine plan that could be expected to make them evil, but all choices between good and evil are left to the player. In the first game, whichever they choose, it is also made clear that they are their own person -- not a pawn to the god even if they choose evil. In the last part, ''Throne of Bhaal'', it turns out that all their actions are nevertheless within the bounds of fate and parameters set by the prophecy of the seer Alaundo. The prophecy turns out to be contingent for its outcome on just the actions of the PlayerCharacter -- not their choice of who to be and what to become, which is free but does not affect the outcome, but whether they or their opponents prevail.

* Fate plays a really big role in ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning''. The setting is at the far end of the sacle and for everyone in the world YouCantFightFate. Some people have even learned to read the tapestry of fate and while they cannot predict when they can predict what will happen to someone. The hero is special in that having died and come back they no longer have a fate and can do what want which ends up having some consequences on the world unforseen by the person who brought you back.

* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': While the initial trilogy leans toward YouCantFightFate, ''VideoGame/GodOfWarRagnarok'' reveals that [[spoiler:the games are set in the absolute middle of this scale - predetermined fate doesn't exist, but beings like the Norns can make exceedingly accurate predictions of how people will react to their prophecies and to other stimuli. It is possible to ScrewDestiny, but you have to acknowledge and accept your flaws and actions]].

* This was a major theme in the ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' series, with [[StrawNihilist Smith]] and Neo becoming the embodiments of fatalism and free will respectively. The climax of the trilogy sums it up nicely with this exchange:
---> '''Agent Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson, why? Why do you persist?
---> '''Neo''': Because I choose to.

* ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'': While the initial trilogy leans toward YouCantFightFat3, ''VideoGame/GodOfWarRagnarok'' reveals that [[spoiler:the games are set in the absolute middle of this scale - predetermined fate doesn't exist, but beings like the Norns can make exceedingly accurate predictions of how people will react to their prophecies and to other stimuli. It is possible to ScrewDestiny, but you have to acknowledge and accept your flaws and actions]].

* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': [[https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/page-17-2022 When Minmax briefly]] [[DeityOfHumanOrigin becomes a god]] [[AchievementsInIgnorance by accident]] and [[TheOmniscient experiences all of time for one singular moment]], he reveals to Kin that both fate and free will are real: every possible reality that could exist is set in stone, but every decision we make hops us from one reality to another where everything is the same except for the choice we just made. He ascribes this to free will existing fifth-dimensionally, [[IdiotHero even though he admits he has no idea what that means.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': When Minmax briefly [[DeityOfHumanOrigin becomes a god]] [[AchievementsInIgnorance by accident]] and [[TheOmniscient experiences all of time for one singular moment]], he reveals to Kin that both fate and free will are real: every possible reality that could exist is set in stone, but every decision we make hops us from one reality to another where everything is the same except for the choice we just made. He ascribes this to free will existing fifth-dimensionally, [[IdiotHero even though he admits he has no idea what that means.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Roommates}}'' is pretty high up on the fate side. As at least "Fighting Fate Is Hard" high but probably closer to "BecauseDestinySaysSo" and because it's as meta as it is fate should be read as the TheoryOfNarrativeCausality. This doesn't stop the characters from trying (Jareth even desperately tries... it earned him the CosmicPlaything standing if nothing else) though and results in most of the series' tear jerkers.
* ''Webcomic/ExistentialComics'': The issue of how much (if any) free will people have, plus what it even means at all, gets discussed in detail with "[[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/70 A Dialogue On Compatibilism]]". Cory later argues that in fact the compatibilist view makes more sense and is ''less'' counter-intuitive, contrary to many claims, using ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' (and {{time travel}} in general) [[https://existentialcomics.com/comic/278 as an example]].

* ''ComicBook/{{Robin|1993}'': Tim discusses why he doesn't buy into the idea of everything being caused by fate and disagrees with those who feel everything happens for a reason, especially to absolve people of responsibility; "Fate has ''never'' been in the business of committing murder. That's always been left in ''our'' capable hands."

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Tim discusses why he doesn't buy into the idea of everything being caused by fate and disagrees with those who feel everything happens for a reason, especially to absolve people of responsibility; "Fate has ''never'' been in the business of committing murder. That's always been left in ''our'' capable hands."

* Literature/TheElricSaga: Elric is quite probably a 2. He could have fought Fate (in his case, by abandoning his sword [[EvilWeapon Stormbringer]]), but he was unable to do so, despite many bitter soliloquies bemoaning his circumstances.
** The books seem to claim that the Lords of Chaos come in at 3, "Fighting Fate Is Hard." There may not be much doubt that the Cosmic Balance will have its way, and the world will not go to eternal Chaos; but there are also some lines that claim, fairly explicitly, that the Lords are so powerful that they have a chance of thwarting Fate.

* This crops up a lot in the ''Literature/AlexVerus'' series, as you'd expect when the main character's power is to see the future. Alex's magic works on the "Prophecies are Predictions" model - he can see the probable consequences of any action, but it's explicitly stated that people do have free will and he can't see past a choice that hasn't been made. However, a character encountered late in the first book can apparently control fate, and the draconic prophecy seems closer to BecauseDestinySaysSo.

* ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' -- Both the ''Belgariad'' and its sequel, the ''Malloreon'' focus on two sides working towards two mutually exclusive prophecies. However, as absolute as these prophecies appear to be, at the same time there is a lot of scrambling by folks such as Belgarath to make certain events go as outlined.

** There is definitely a Destiny - the History Books kept by the Monks of Time describe the complete history of the Disc from beginning to end, Death's life timers start with the appropriate amount of sand, ''something'' ensures Carrot arrives in Ankh-Morpork just as it needs a dragon-slaying king, and so on. But the History Monks can change what the books say, life timers can be smashed, turned over, or just mutate to eke out the sand as much as possible, and Carrot can decide Ankh-Morpork doesn't need a king after all. The ''Companion'' says "On the Discworld, the future is set. The job of everyone is to fight back."
** It helps that several of the books are explicitly framed as a game being played, using the world as a game board, between the AnthropomorphicPersonification Fate and The Lady (i.e. Lady Luck), so the position on the scale largely depends on who's winning at the moment.

* In ''Literature/SlaughterhouseFive'' the main character jumps through time at random to different points in his life- his honeymoon to his death and back to the war where he was taken prisoner- because all time is happening at once. Even the end of the world "has always happened and will always happen." In fact, according to the aliens that visit Earth, it is the only planet where people believe in free will.
* ''Literature/{{Deverry}}'' uses the term "Wyrd" and states that the future is shaped as much by chance as wyrd. You may inherit certain traits and tendancies from past lives as your wyrd (such as a talent for magic, a crush on a certain person or a tendency to get in a certain kind of trouble) but this can be influenced at changed by conscious choices or random chance. Occasionally a sorceror can create a true prophecy but these are susceptible to ProphecyTwist (E.g. "He shall not die in battle except by a sword, but no man can kill him with a sword" - was killed by a girl, but he could also have been killed by his chief rival who turned out to be a half-elf.)

* In ''Literature/TheFoundation'' series, psychohistory makes quite good predictions about how masses of people will behave but it can go off-course - the predictions are not 100% sure [[spoiler: as clearly demonstrated by Mule]].

-->"What is the point of having free will if one cannot occasionally spit in the eye of destiny?"

* This is the nature of a theological debate in ''Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm'', where precognitive {{Seers}} play a major role.

* ''Literature/WingsOfFire'' is type 4. [=NightWings=] [[spoiler:though far fewer of them then the [=NightWings=] would have you believe]]have the power of prophecy, but there are multiple potential futures even when it comes to random events and they are ultimately just predictions. Even the most talented seers are marked by being able to see all of the potential futures, not a single one.
* ''Literature/TheSight'' is type 2 - characters can have visions of the future and it is difficult and requires effort to change them, though it is still possible. [[spoiler:Larka realizes this just a bit too late to save herself]], but it does provide some hope given that [[spoiler:it turns out the most likely future is humanity nuking everyone and destroying the environment.]]

* In ''Literature/TheAffix'' the words of the gem's previous long-term keeper imply fate and free will are both valid, and should be kept in balance. Just because the universe is deterministic doesn't mean a person's choices aren't their own. Various characters have wildly differing beliefs on the subject, but Matt sides with his predecessor's embrace of compatibilism.
* Defied in ''Literature/IDoNotWantToDoThis''. Gareth claims that, rather than being in conflict, free will and destiny are exactly the same thing, with the only difference being the passage of time. The choices a person makes shapes their character, molding them over time into a person that will or will not do certain things, which is all there is to the "predetermined choices" concept of destiny.
* ''Literature/TheStand:'' God exists, and He has a very definite plan worked out, but humans always have free will, and must ''choose'' whether or not they're going to go along with said plan. Interestingly, the novel hints more than once that villain Randall Flagg may be the one exception, since, well, he's not really human...

* ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'', firmly believes in "No fate but what we make" and the entire series comes down to Sarah and John trying to prevent the events of T3 right up to the end. Then the series throws the whole thing for a loop when [[spoiler: John Connor jumps ahead through time past the point of Judgment Day, and it turns out that the resistance is still alive and kicking without him.]]

** Then there's "The Father Will Kill The Son" relating to Angel and Connor. Even though it was placed in a prophecy book to mislead the heroes, it nevertheless came true, though again just literally: Angel "killed" Connor, but as part of a deal that gave Connor a new, more normal, life. The demon who planted the fake prophecy to try to stop the ''real'' one - that Connor would kill him - nevertheless was in fact killed by Connor. The only aversion of literal fate in the two series might have been Jasmine's defeat in ''Angel'' Season 4; and while the Tro-Clon prophecy sort of suggested something like Jasmine's rise, whether it ruled out her eventual defeat is questionable.

* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'': everything the Dragon advises Merlin to do is BecauseDestinySaysSo. The Dragon gives advice to save Arthur. But when it comes to Mordred or Morgana, he advises Merlin to make them die to prevent destiny from happening. But Merlin never follows ''this'' advice.

* ''[[Series/FlashForward2009 Flash Forward]]'': free will works but fate will take steps to 'correct out' any changes you make (i.e. if you kill yourself to prevent your flash-forward, someone else will end up doing what led up to your flash-forward). Nevertheless, [[spoiler: Demetri surviving to the end of the series]] shows that while it's a severe uphill struggle, fate can be changed.
** Specifically, Flash Forward's verse is based on the concept 'what would happen if quantum mechanics worked on a macrosopic scale?' - so you can screw destiny on the small scale but not on the large.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'': Although averting fate is clearly possible, only [[spoiler: Londo]], manages to do so over the course of the series, and even then [[spoiler: the option of changing his destiny]] had already been predicted. Other characters have no luck in averting fate. [[spoiler: Sheridan]] tries to avert destiny and actually causes the future to happen, [[spoiler: Babylon 5 is blown up]] at the end of the series, and [[spoiler: Lennier]] betrays [[spoiler: the Rangers]] despite all efforts not to.
* ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'': Premonitions usually come true, but it is possible to stop them from happening with such knowledge.
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' is difficult to place, but the general rule seems to be that prophecies are predictions. [[spoiler: The Observers are a group emotionless cyborgs who have the ability to jump around in the timeline with a great deal of freedom, but their predictions are probabilistic in nature and they can't be certain that their manipulation of the timeline will succeed, as they are ultimately destroyed by their failure to stop a ButterflyOfDoom: A genetically anomalous child Observer (later named Michael) proves to be a SuperiorSuccessor by possessing advanced cognitive and [[TheEmpath empathic]] abilities [[OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce without needing an emotion-removing implant like the rest]]. The Observers realize that the child is a threat to their existence and attempt to dispose of him, but Michael is eventually sent back in time to [[RetGone stop the research that created the Observers in the first place]].]]
* The premise of "Series/EarlyEdition" is that the mysterious paper Gary receives every day shows what will happen if Gary does not intervene. It's intended for Gary to use the knowledge to save people, putting it firmly in the "prophecies are guides, not rules" category.
* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'' discusses extensively on this debate about free will vs. determinism. For some characters such as Ford, he believes the Hosts have more free will than the humans who are bounded by their code for survival. The Forge A.I., who analyzes all the guests' data, also believes that humans are doomed to fate because they are incapable of change and that their "free will" is just an illusion because they're passengers of causality. However, in Seasons 3, Caleb's inclusion in the story shows that there are humans who are capable of making choices and it is the reason Dolores chooses him to lead humanity. In fact, Dolores concludes in the finale that "free will exists; it's just fucking hard to get."; hence, the tagline of Season 3 which is "Free will is not free".

* In ''Literature/TheFoundation'' series, psychohistory makes quite good predictions but it can go off-course - the predictions are not 100% sure [[spoiler: as clearly demonstrated by Mule]].

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': It is stated that fate is undefeatable. However, [[spoiler:later it is not only revealed that can fate can be fought, but that humans are the only ones with true free will -- something not even the Fal'cie had. Hence the reason Fal'cie create lu'cie, to use their unlimited potential]].

* ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate'' solidly demonstrates that Fighting Fate is Hard. Timeline alterations tend be to ultimately inconsequential, as [[RubberBandHistory "Attractor Fields"]] lead [[AlternateTimeline diverging world lines]] to converge and lead to the same result... ''unless'', that is, you locate a critical event and alter time drastically enough to shift to a world line in a ''different'' Attractor Field.