Does Free Will Exist if Physics is Deterministic?

Imagine a robot that pushes buttons because it is programmed to do so. A scientist says the robot has no choice; its code determines every move. But you might say the robot "chooses" to push Button A over Button B based on what it wants.

In our world, atoms bump into each other like billiard balls. This is hard determinism, meaning everything happens because something else pushed it. But your brain is made of these same atoms. If every thought has a physical cause, are you just a complicated machine?

Many people believe in compatibilism. They think you can be determined by your genes and experiences, yet still feel free when you decide what to eat for dinner. It is like being in a car: the road (physics) guides you, but you are driving.

Free will feels real because we consider our options before acting.