How did William James's ideas about chance and change relate to human freedom?

William James’s ideas regarding chance and change were central to his rejection of a "block universe"—a deterministic view where all reality is fixed and interconnected. By applying his pragmatic method, James argued against the notion of a static, complete reality, instead championing a world characterized by variety, novelty, and pluralism.1

For James, human freedom is deeply linked to this open, "changeful" world. He viewed the universe as a place where events can originate in chance and are transformed by "breaks" and "spontaneities". In this framework, the individual acts as a real, specific event whose intervention in history provides a new and unexpected turn. Because the continuous flux of change and chance can alter ideals and invalidate rigid laws, human beings possess the capacity to influence the future.23

James’s philosophy emphasizes that thought is adaptive and purposive; by choosing specific means to attain future ends, individuals actively mold the character of reality according to their needs and desires. Thus, freedom is not merely an abstract concept but a functional reality that allows individuals to establish satisfactory relations with their surroundings and shape the world.34