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If only one time-path existed, precognitive information would be of no importance, since no possibility would exist, in possessing this information, of altering the future.
This quotation is an excerpt from the radio announcement that explains the minority and majority reports. As the report states, the entire theoretical foundation of the Precrime system depends on the existence of multiple time paths that will allow the police to enact their will to stop the murders from happening. However, this philosophy is not pushed to its logical conclusion. While the police treat the murder itself as avoidable, the same attitude is never extended toward the potential murderers. Instead, Precrime treats them as fated to be murderers without the free will to change their minds.
“No,” Anderton said, “it’s absolutely correct. But I’m going to murder Kaplan anyhow.”
With this declaration, Anderton blurs the lines between fate and free will. On the one hand, he follows the prediction set out by the precog “Mike,” as if it were fated. On the other, he here expresses his sincere conviction in making this choice, even weighing other options. To complicate matters, he has made this choice to discredit Kaplan. He intends to fulfill the majority report prophecy through his free will to publicly craft the appearance that he is operating according to fate. Even at the height of his autonomy, invisible forces like politics and public perception shape and limit Anderton’s options.
