Throughout history, individuals have attested to the power each one of us has to make a difference in the world. As agents of free will, we make choices the impact of which can extend beyond our lifetimes and be long-lasting.

In this week’s show, we presented discussions by historians David Fromkin and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. on “How Individuals Shape the Future” that they delivered at a Boston University conference last fall.

Both Fromkin and Schlesinger believe in the impact individuals can have on history. One such individual was American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They both admitted that while a certain kind of determinism acts on all of us, the future is unknowable. However, each choice we make rules out an infinite number of other choices, so our choices can and do make a difference. This is why we should be held accountable and take full responsibility for our actions.