ABSTRACT
The problem of free will is one of the most subtle and fascinating of all philosophical problems. Trouble for human freedom derives from an additional feature of theistic metaphysics: the doctrine of divine providence, or control over the universe. God as traditionally conceived is omnipotent and sovereign. The problem is especially acutely felt when the doctrine of divine sovereignty is applied to the area of human salvation. Some philosophers question whether the term 'free will' can be given an accurate analysis at all, as they doubt that there is a coherent concept of it. The most widely recognized source of interest in free will is concern for the appropriate assignment of moral responsibility. The notions of free will and moral responsibility are so closely linked by many, that some philosophers take the meaning of the term 'free act' to be equivalent to that of the phrase 'an act for which the actor is morally responsible'.
