Did Lucretius believe in free will?
While the motion of atoms is largely determined, I did introduce the concept of the 'swerve' or *clinamen*. This is a slight, unpredictable deviation in the atoms' downward path. This swerve is crucial because it breaks the chain of absolute determinism. It allows for collisions and the formation of complex bodies, and more importantly, it provides a physical basis for the freedom of the mind, enabling us to act and make choices beyond mere necessity.