The Determined Will

Stephen Brewer’s couple are determined to argue about free will.

- By Stephen Brewer. Photographs by Miles Walker and Drop Rosenski

An old redbrick warehouse right next to the rail track dividing the city in two has become a popular downtown bar, with a shaded patio alongside the track. On a humid summer’s day, Freya and Max’s conversation is stopped for several minutes by the loud rumbling and squealing as a mile of shipping containers stacked two high trundle past them.

Freya: Being that close to such a monster is an awesome experience. I just love it! What made you choose this fantastic bar?

Max: The short answer is, it was recommended by a friend, and I thought it would be the sort of place you would like as well.

Freya: And what’s the long answer?

Max: That I didn’t choose it at all. Our being here was predetermined by a network of past causes and events: how we came to live here, the history of the city, the building of the rail-track through the centre of this town, the heat of the day... the chain of cause and effect stretches all the way back into the past… So in fact it was destined to happen.

Freya: I don’t know how you can believe such nonsense.

Max: Well you don’t believe you have free will, do you?